The Diabetes Association of Samoa is to launch a $US500,000 project to help prevent diabetes in the country.
The funds come from the World Diabetes Foundation in Denmark and will be used for awareness programmes and training workshops in rural areas.
The Association's Vice President, Fesola'i Fa'amanatu Nielsen, has told the Samoa Observer that it is vital something is done to reduce the number of people with diabetes, a disease which affects twenty percent of the population in Samoa.
The project will focus on making people more aware of diabetes, how they can prevent the disease through lifestyle choices and the impact diabetes has on how their bodies function.
