Leausa Tole’afoa Dr. Take Naseri is the Ministry of Health’s new Director General. Leausa takes over from outgoing Director General, Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe.
The appointment was announced by Cabinet yesterday, when Mrs. Toelupe saw out her final day, celebrating with her staff.
The appointment is a step up for Leausa within the Ministry, who for the last three years has served as its A.C.E.O. for National Disease Surveillance and International Health Regulations Division. He has also served the Ministry of Health as a Consultant Specialist Public Health Physician.
He has served in the Medical Profession for over 20 years in Samoa, American Samoa and in New Zealand. Leausa holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of Queensland, Australia, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Papua New Guinea.
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He started his education in Samoa before furthering his studies in New Zealand and Fiji. He hails from the villages of Matanofo Falelatai and Fagaloa and is a Deacon of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa.
A 48-year-old married man, Leausa is a member of the S.C.O.P.A Rugby Club and the Samoa Golden Oldies. Asked for a comment about his new role, Tole’afoa said he had “not officially” been appointed.
“A lot of what they are talking about is hearsay,” he said.
“I have yet to get official confirmation from Cabinet.”
However, the Ministry did have a farewell party in honour of Mrs. Toelupe yesterday, who served as the Ministry’s leader for almost nine years, having first been appointed to the position in 2005.
According to a Cabinet Press Release from 2011, when she was again reappointed to the position, she was recommended as “the most favourable candidate” and her application was submitted to Cabinet for their final approval.
“Palanitina has now been re-appointed and will be the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Health for the next three years,” the 2011 release reads.
“Mrs. Toelupe was appointed to this position since 2005. “She has been working for the Ministry of Health for 14 years before moving to the Ministry of Women in 1998.
“She became Assistant Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Women in 2000 – 2005.”
According to the release Mrs. Toelupe hails from the villages of Vailele and Safune, Savai’i and has two children.
Sources told the Weekend Observer that Mrs. Toelupe acknowledged her colleagues, the government and her relatives in a farewell speech she made during a Cabinet Development Committee meeting earlier this week.
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