Amata Announces $333,777 Grant Award for American Samoa Cancer Coalition

Washington, D.C. –Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, announced that the National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities has awarded a grant in the amount of $333,777 to the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition for the American Samoa Indigenous Samoan Partnership to Initiate Research Excellence (INSPIRE) in Colorectal Cancer Health Literacy project.

“I am pleased to announce this grant award that will assist in local efforts to educate our people about the dangers of colorectal cancer, and the benefits of early detection through screening,” said Amata. “Educating the public about these health issues can often be the most effective way of preventing them,” continued Amata.

In 2002, a Pacific Cancer Initiative was formed between American Samoa and nine other jurisdictions in the United States Association of Pacific Island Nations (USAPIN). From this initiative, the Cancer Council of the Pacific Islands (CCPI) was formed and funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to assess the cancer burden on each jurisdiction. In 2004, the assessment showed that cancer was the second leading cause of death in American Samoa. With this information, it was decided that a coalition, made of government and non-government organizations needed to be formed to reduce the incidence of cancer morbidity and mortality on island. Today, the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition partners with other like-minded groups around the world in the fight against cancer through education and prevention.

“I want to thank our local community members including Francine Amoa who worked to obtain these funds for our island and the fight against cancer. I also want to thank the officials at the National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities for their recognition of the issue in the Pacific Islands and the awarding of these funds. I know that through collaborative research and continued reliable funding, we can eradicate this horrible disease,” concluded Amata.

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