Samoa's health minister has called for measures to ensure healthy lifestyles as both American Samoa and Samoa grapple with non-communicable diseases.
Tuitama Dr Leao Tuitama issued the call at the opening of the 4th Annual Health Bilateral Summit in Apia.
Tuitama says he is aware of the need to open economies and trade systems for the sake of economic opportunities for Samoa.
But he has struck a note of caution.
"We must then learn from history lessons from other countries where in the name of development and economic growth the health of people has suffered or where people for whom development is attempted in fact became the health victims of these efforts."
Samoa's health minister Tuitama Dr Leao Tuitama
