On Thursday, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong, delivered 4.5 tonnes of medical supplies to Samoa's Ministry of Health after landing in the country on Wednesday night.
The Australian Minister for Health, who arrived in Samoa on Wednesday evening for a one-day visit, presented medical equipment to the country's Minister for Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele, on Thursday morning.
Valasi accepted Australia's continuous assistance to the country's health sector, noting that it was very important for the country, and thanked the Australian government for providing personal protective equipment and medical oxygen equipment as part of its health-related donations.
The Australian Government is pleased to be working in collaboration with Samoa, according to Ms. Wong, and the support is part of the new Australia-Samoa partnership known as the "Tautua - Human Development for All."
The Australian Minister announced the "Tautua â Human Development for All" as an eight-year collaboration project between the two countries to tackle complex human development and social inclusion issues that both countries are dealing.
The Australian and Samoa governments announced late Thursday that the eight-year collaboration âwill aim to encourage collective action in health, education, gender, disability, and social protection.â
Minister Wong had a meeting with Samoa's Cabinet, community leaders, and private sector players to hear about Samoa's future goals and means for collaborating to ensure that "our Blue Pacific" continues to be robust and prosperous.
She took note of the difficulties and triumphs faced by Samoan families in participating in Australia's labor mobility schemes and committed to maintaining the circumstances favorable to both Australia and Samoa.
During her visit, Minister Wong expressed her hope that this was only the start of many more during her term as Foreign Minister.