People across the Pacific Islands are seeing improved mobility and dental care through humanitarian efforts supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In Samoa, on April 21, 2026, the Church helped provide new facilities and equipment at the Tupua Tamase Meaole Hospital in Apia, Samoa.
Government leaders, mobile and health service recipients, and church representatives gathered for the handover ceremony to highlight the impact these resources will have on individuals and families across the country.
Some of the beneficiaries who attended the ceremony rely on mobility and prosthetic services for their daily lives, highlighting the importance of expanding access to care.
The initiative included a renovated mobility building, new storage facilities, upgraded laboratory and workshop space, a mobile prosthetics clinic, and a 14-passenger dental van designed to expand outreach across Samoa.
These improvements are especially important for individuals in remote communities, as access to specialized health services may be limited in some parts of the country.
The new dental van is expected to increase access to preventive and essential oral health services, especially for children and families in rural areas, by delivering equipment and supplies to patients in remote areas. Improving mobility facilities also supports the provision of prosthetic limbs and assistive services, helping individuals regain independence and improve their quality of life.
Elder Denny Faalogo, Area Seventy, said improving access to care can have a huge impact on individuals and families.
“When someone regains the ability to walk and move independently, it impacts every part of their life,” he says. “It restores confidence, dignity, and the ability to participate more fully in family, work, and community life.”
At the handover ceremony, the Samoa Ministry of Health acknowledged the impact of local humanitarian efforts and partnerships that made the project possible.
“These developments represent more than just infrastructure; they are powerful symbols of compassion, partnership and enduring service,” Deputy Minister of Health Motuopua Sebe Hennie Henry Papali said in a ChurchofJesusChrist.org news release.
In addition to expanding medical resources, the Church has partnered with the National University of Tonga to establish an accredited three-year oral health degree program at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
Now in its second year, the program gives students the opportunity to earn a degree in oral health while preparing to independently provide dental care in the community.
The first class has 14 students. “Akata Finau is currently in her second year of the program.
“I learned that I was capable of more than I ever thought,” Finau told ChurchofJesusChrist.org. “I became more confident and responsible and also learned to work better with others. Not only that, but I realized that I really enjoyed helping patients and learning more about dentistry.”
This program helps students gain confidence and enables them to help others gain confidence through oral health.
Ana Kata Fauonuku said she discovered her passion for dentistry after learning how healthy teeth improve confidence and quality of life.
“I am now motivated to contribute to the improvement of dental services in my country and am passionate about helping people gain confidence through their oral health,” said Fauonuku.
Many people in the South Pacific experience gingivitis and periodontitis, increasing the need for trained dental professionals. Naati Fakataba said the program would strengthen the workforce by training dental hygienists to “tack on this disease and raise awareness of the target population”.
“This is a blessing to people,” she said. “This will be the first dental hygienist specifically trained for this purpose.”
These projects in Samoa and Tonga reflect our ongoing efforts to enhance mobility and access to dental care across the Pacific Islands.
