By Staff Writer
Local health services are literally on the move with the use of a mobile clinic vehicle medical providers to make it easier for village patients to access treatment.
Japan dated the vehicle to make it possible for the Health Ministry to have a ‘moving hospital’.
The mobile clinic vehicle, also known as a travelling clinic, is the second component of the a formal partnership signed between Samoa and Japan on 26 August 2021.
The medical outreach vehicle follows an earlier gifting of of a dental clinic car, officially handed over in August 2024.
The total value of both vehicles amounts to approximately USD 910,400 (SAT 2,334,000).
The vehicle is scheduled to be put into use starting in August 2025, following training and technical assistance provided by Japanese experts.
It is specifically designed to serve as a mobile base for doctors and nurses, bringing medical services such as consultations, prenatal check-ups, immunizations and general health screening directly to remote and underserved areas of Samoa.
Moreover, the vehicle is equipped with a consultation space, an examination bed, a waiting area and essential medical tools, including blood pressure monitor, thermometer and basic test kits, enabling the provision of essential healthcare services on the move.
