Samoa Housing Corporation (SHC) Chief Executive Officer Mata’utia Rula Levi leads by example in the promotion of healthy living and prevention of kidney disease amongst staff.
This week the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) screening team visited SHC upon a special request made by Matautia, to have all staff tested and receive important medical and health advice from NKF.
Clinical Director of the National Kidney Foundation and former Manager and Director of Clinical Services for NHS, Leituala Dr Ben Matalavea says the ultimate goal is the prevention of kidney disease amongst our Samoan people, at risk of kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
“There are preventable causes of kidney disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity in our country,” said Leituala Dr Matalavea.
“The ultimate goal is the prevention of kidney disease amongst our people and it is encouraging to see organisations taking the initiative and reaching out to us for screening”.
Dr Matalavea commended the CEO of Samoa Housing Corporation, Matautia Rula Levi, for taking the lead amongst her staff.
Matautia is herself a survivor of cancer after early detection in 2017. She has led the Samoa Housing Corporation as CEO since 2005 and has been inspirational through her testimony with the SHC team.
SHC staff make donations every year to support NGOs in Samoa such as the Samoa Cancer Society, WIBDI, ADRA and others.
Leituala Dr Ben Matalavea acknowledged Matautia’s leadership and thanked her for the invitation that allowed the NKF team into the workplace for important screening and information sharing.
Leituala says NKF is fighting an uphill battle with rising kidney disease as a result of the commonly found health issues of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, which can be prevented through screening.
“We realise there are so few of us but the problem is too big. So for the time being with our small team, we are doing screening on request from government and non-government organisations,” said Dr Matalavea.
Established in 1990, the Samoa Housing Corporation is the leading public financial provider of residential homes for the people of Samoa.
The main purpose of the Corporation is to improve housing and living conditions of lower moderate income persons and families by lending monies on mortgage or other securities to assist to build, extend, renovate or purchase land for the purpose of building a home thereon. SHC also administers housing for rent to the public.
