21 Aug 2009

Financial row at Samoa's diabetes association goes to government level

9:46 am on 21 August 2009

Allegations over the misuse of funds and assets at Samoa's Diabetes Association will be raised at a meeting scheduled for today.

Prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi is to meet with the association's newly elected executive members.

This follows a move by the chief executive of the Health Ministry to dissolve the association's executive body and close the diabetes clinic until a special general meeting is called to elect new executive members.

A doctor who was assigned to provide medical care for diabetes patients has also been recalled back to the health ministry.

But the association's new executive describes the decision by the CEO as move to hide the mismanagement of funds and assets by the association's Vice President and its Secretary, who are members of the Nurses Association.

The two have rejected numerous calls to step down from the body over the allegations.