Healthcare

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 Samoans have a very traditional approach to medicine and healing. They often use herbs and special healers to cure illnesses. There are four types of traditional healers in Samoan culture. Taulasea heals physiological illness. They heal social and physical disease through advice. They traditionally spoke with ancestors and ancient great leaders. The belief is that one’s mind, body, and social health are all connected. Samoans believe that when a social change happens to a person that person becomes possessed by an ancestor. This possession is called mai aitu or ghost sickness. The fofo is a massage healer. They manipulate the toala, or nectar of being. The fofogau is a bone setter, and falatosaga is a midwife. These healers use herbs and ancient ways to heal. These healers are usually women.

Samoa was introduced to western medicine and illnesses when settlers first came to the islands. Traditional healers were forbidden and it was seen as a sin since the healers were women and in Christianity beliefs men hold higher powers. This fusion of western medicine has led to a unique healthcare system in Samoa. Illnesses are seen as either Western or Samoan. If a Samoan person becomes ill, they will reach out to a healer first usually a taulasea. If the healer cannot heal them then they will seek out a western doctor. Samoans are more fond of taking herbs and supplements then western medicine but they will seek western treatment is traditional remedies are not working.

Death in Samoa culture is “Gods will” and they should die at home or one’s spirit will cause chaos for the family. The death of a persons spirit never happens in Samoa and they are buried near the home they can be visited. Prior to the funeral the matai and tulafale, the talking chief, perform a ceremony and delegate jobs to the surviving family. Friends and members of the extended family often visit and bring gifts and money.

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If there is any advice to be given about working in Samoan healthcare, it would be to be patient and understanding of the cultural beliefs. Samoans are proud of their traditions, and they would rather utilize them first. There have been a lot of studies done of the herbs and medicines used by traditional healers and the benefits that they yield. Death ceremonies are very sacred to Samoans and they will choose to die at home as tradition states. If you are working in healthcare in Samoa, be sure to do lots of research on traditional healing and healers to better help patients.

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