12 Dec 2019

Winston Peters to visit Samoa as the country deals with the measles crisis

8:11 pm on 12 December 2019

The foreign affairs minister, Winston Peters will be travelling to Samoa tomorrow to visit hospitals and medical teams dealing with the ongoing measles outbreak.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters during a stand-up interview after attending a Police cadet graduation 21 November 2019.

Winston Peters . Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen

He will be travelling with minister for pacific peoples, Aupito William Sio, for the two day trip.

New Zealand has funded more than a 100,000 measles and rubella vaccines and sent multiple medical teams and equipment to Samoa to tackle the crisis, which has claimed 72 lives, mostly children.

Peters said New Zealand had deep sympathy for the situation in Samoa.

"We are continuing to work very closely with Samoa, and other international partners, as this situation develops and needs arise," he said.

Peters and Sio will visit Leulumoega and meet with the Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.

They will then visit Leulumoega District Hospital and Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, where New Zealand and Samoan health teams are working together treating ill patients and supporting the maternity unit.

They will also visit UNICEF Headquarters.

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