About WHO in Samoa

About WHO in Samoa

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established on 7 April 1948 as the directing and coordinating authority in global public health within the United Nations system. Working at three levels in the Organization (global, regional and country), more than 7000 WHO staff worldwide collaborate with the governments of 194 Member States and other partners to achieve the WHO founding vision of the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people.

The Western Pacific Region

The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than one quarter of the world’s population, stretching over more than one third of the distance around the globe. In all, more than 600 WHO staff work in 15 country offices and the Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, to support Member States in achieving better health outcomes for the Region’s nearly 1.9 billion people in 37 countries and areas.

Tailored support for the Pacific

To coordinate and provide timely, tailored support and backstopping to 21 Pacific Island countries and areas, in 2010 the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office established the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) in Suva, Fiji. The Division also includes six other offices in the Pacific; the Country Offices in Samoa and the Solomon Islands and Country Liaison Offices in Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga and Vanuatu. Working together as a Division, these offices provide support to: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

The Division’s work spans five main areas of work and is delivered in close collaboration with Pacific governments, other UN agencies, development partners, donors, and non-governmental organisations to achieve better health outcomes for Pacific Island communities.

 

WHO History

Western Samoa was assigned to the Western Pacific Region at the Sixth World Health Assembly held in May 1953 ''without prejudice to any questions regarding sovereignty'' as an area. Western Samoa joined the World Health Organization on 16 May 1962 as a Member State after gaining its independence from New Zealand on 1 January 1962. From 1946 to 1961, Western Samoa was administered by New Zealand under a United Nations Trusteeship Agreement. In July 1997, the Constitution was amended to change the country’s name from Western Samoa to Samoa (officially the “Independent State of Samoa”).

The WHO Representative Office in the South Pacific covered Samoa from 1956 to 1968, the designation of a WHO Country Liaison Office in Apia. On 1 October 1986, the WHO Representative Office in Apia, Samoa was established and covers the American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.

 

Country Data

Health profile
 

Contact WHO

WHO Representative in Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau:
Dr Wendy Snowdon

Office address:
2nd Floor, Nursing Credentialing Centre, Motootua, Apia, Samoa

Postal address:
PO Box 77, Apia, Samoa

Telephone number:
(685) 24-976 (direct line) 
(685) 23-756 
(685) 23-757

Fax number:
(685) 23-765

Office hours:
08.00 - 17.00 (Monday to Friday)

Email:
wpwsmwr@who.int

Ministry of Health

Address:
Motootua P.O Box 2268, Apia, Samoa

Telephone number:
(685) 23330 or 21212 ext 502

Fax number:
(685) 26553

Email:
ceo@health.gov.ws

Website:
https://www.health.gov.ws/
https://www.facebook.com/healthsamoa