Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has today announced his support for the repair and redevelopment of a memorial marking 100 years since the 1918 influenza pandemic reached Samoa, as well as the refurbishment of a nurses' training centre in Apia, the country's capital.
"One hundred years ago, the New Zealand passenger ship Talune arrived in Apia, with flu-infected passengers on board. The consequences of that arrival were devastating," Mr Peters said.
"We acknowledge that almost all Samoan families were impacted in some way by the epidemic and we respectfully join with Samoa to mark the centenary today as National Health Day."
About 9000 Kiwis died after soldiers returning from WW1 brought the disease home with them.
An estimated 8500 people, or 22 per cent of the population, is believed to have died following the influenza outbreak.
The Deputy Prime Minister also signalled the Government's ongoing support for healthcare services in Samoa by providing "$2 million towards the refurbishment of a nurses' training facility near the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital" in Apia.
The training centre will help support the country's plans to "reintroduce a community health model whereby trained teams go out to the villages to provide primary health care", Mr Peters said.
"New Zealand is also supporting the repair and redevelopment of a site in Vaimoso cemetery, near Apia, which will be a national memorial to the Influenza epidemic,” Mr Peters said.
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