Adventist Church Conducts Health Screenings and Seminars During Samoa for Christ Campaign to Address Noncommunicable Diseases

Health screenings and educational seminars conducted during the recent Samoa for Christ evangelistic initiatives brought preventive care into local communities as the country faces a growing noncommunicable disease crisis. The nationwide campaign, which ran from August 16 to 30, included health teams and 10,000 Toes ambassadors offering free wellness checks at various sites before nightly evangelistic meetings. Participants received blood pressure and blood glucose testing, along with height, weight, and body mass index measurements.

In Salelesi village, where the local program was supported by the Fusi Seventh-day Adventist Church, more than 100 people were screened during the campaign’s second week. At another site, Aleisa Adventist Church, volunteers reported that approximately 40 people came for health checks each night. Some participants recorded systolic blood pressure readings above 200 mmHg—well above the normal range of less than 120 mmHg—while others had elevated blood glucose levels. Health volunteers discussed the results with participants and offered practical guidance on reducing their risks, including changes to diet and physical activity. Those with concerning results were encouraged to seek further medical care.

The screenings formed part of a broader response to Samoa’s high burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). A 2026 study examining national mortality trends found that NCDs—including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases—accounted for 83 percent of the country’s 1,427 recorded deaths in 2021. The study also reported that in 2019, obesity affected an estimated 58.4 percent of women and 43.8 percent of men, while diabetes affected 31 percent of women and 26.9 percent of men.

Samoa-Tokelau Mission president Afiipu Tuaoi said the health initiatives were an important part of the campaign. “Samoa has a real health crisis at the moment, so this is one ministry we’re putting a lot of work into,” he said. “The groundwork through 10,000 Toes and the health screenings brought a lot of people in and created a real connection to the campaign.”

Mission health director Benjamin Tofilau, who has served in health ministry for the past decade, said addressing the crisis would require looking beyond individual choices to the customs and habits shaping everyday life. “First of all, it’s the lifestyle within our homes and communities,” he said. “In our culture we look after our leaders, teachers, and pastors. It’s a daily responsibility to feed them, but what we are giving them is often not healthy. Our church members and the wider community need a lot of training and education.”

Tofilau said unhealthy eating habits and a growing reliance on imported and processed foods were also contributing factors. “We need to address the root causes of these health issues,” he added. “It’s not just about individual behavior but about the systems and structures that influence our daily lives.”

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