Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 15-member medical team from the mainland will be arriving tonight to hold free medical clinics that will begin in neighboring Samoa and culminate in American Samoa before they return to the mainland on Sept. 28.

The Samoa Medical Mission is an inter-denominational non-profit organization, which works in conjunction with the Mission of Hope Ministries in South Carolina and was founded by Bishop Vaifanua Mulitauaopele and Mrs. Eva Mulitauaopele in 1996.

These medical missions have been ongoing since then and through the years they have acquired free of charge, the services of Christians who are doctors, nurses, chiropractors, EMT’s, pharmacists, dentists, eye doctors, physical therapists, medical students, ministers, youth workers, even singers/ musicians and any Christian who wants to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Its vision is “to partner with individuals, churches and businesses to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of our community.” And they have been sending medical missions to the Territory and Samoa since 1996 and also providing medication and supplies.

Plans were also in the pipeline in 2018 to build a community sponsored non-profit primary care clinic, the Mission of Hope Clinic in Tafuna and Bishop Mulitauaopele met with ASG Leaders to outline the initiative.

A ministry for men of all ages and walks of life called the Promise Keepers was also established in American Samoa.

Sadly however, Bishop Vaifanua Mulitauaopele, the driving force behind these initiatives died in Dec. 20, 2018 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

But his wife Eva Mulitauaopele has continued her husband’s legacy and calling by following their Mission which is, “To provide a positive and safe environment where people’s lives can be changed by the transformation power of God’s word. We strive to improve the lives of the people through free medical clinics, preventive health education, counseling and prayer. The people see the love of Christ manifested through the hands of His people — many denominations — ONE CHURCH.”

The medical missions were interrupted by COVID-19 and this is the first mission since and according to Rosa Banse, who is their local coordinator, the 15-member team arriving tonight will be joined by six local members.

 “The clinics will focus primarily on the triage and treatment of patients with a variety of ailments, diseases or conditions,” Banse stated. “There will be wound care, pediatric treatment and pharmaceutical services from certified personnel and I encourage local residents who are suffering from any kind of ailment to come and take advantage of this free of charge clinic.”

She revealed that unfortunately for this year’s mission, there will be no optometry or dentistry services like past years due to the unavailability of any of their professional personnel.

She stated that on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, the team will be leaving for Upolu, Samoa arriving there on the same day which is Wednesday 20 September in Samoa, where they will be hosted by Rev. Nuuausala Siaosi Siutaia and Mrs. Malu Siutaia, of the Apia Protestant Church Parish.

The next day, the team will be traveling to Savaii where they will have two medical clinics on the 21st and 22nd of September, before returning to Upolu. On Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, the team will have one medical clinic in Upolu before returning to the territory.

Arriving here, they will hold one more medical clinic for local residents at the New Hope Center Church under the leadership of Pastor Chris Pena opposite the AOG Bible College in Ottoville, Tafuna.

The team returns to the mainland on September 28, 2023.