Samoan families torn apart as measles epidemic kills children
Aiga means everything in Samoa. That one word defines its people, their generous culture and the way they go about everyday life. Aiga means family. But the Samoan aiga is hurting — the children of Samoa are dying.
NSW
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Aiga means everything in Samoa. That one word defines its people, their generous culture and the way they go about everyday life.
Aiga means family.
So cherished are children in Samoa that the second Sunday every October is White Sunday — a day dedicated to children or Lotu Tamaiti. A day where they are lavished with gifts and allowed privileges often reserved for elders, such as being served first at meal times.
But the Samoan aiga is hurting — the children of Samoa are dying.
As of Saturday, 65 lives so far have lost to one of the worst measles outbreaks in the country’s history, 57 of them are children aged under four. Defenceless babies.
“I haven’t seen my sister and her family for months due to the measles outbreak,” my husband’s niece told me.
“As much as I miss everyone, no one is allowed at my house — nor to hers”.
This is despite being vaccinated two months ago.
My husband’s cousin James Belford is the nurse manager at the Poutasi District Hospital, the same hospital hit by a tsunami in 2009.
He has taken to calculating the number of people he has treated. His latest Facebook post simply said: 1129-879. The number of patients he has treated and since discharged.
He’s had about one hours’ sleep this past week and his hospital has run out of ice packs to keep vaccinations cold.
When I asked him if there was anything we could do, he simply said: “Faafetai (thank you) Lilli, please pray for Samoa … our population”.
But mostly the people of Samoa are sad.
“I don’t want to cry alone,” another niece said.