The U.S Territory of American Samoa provides wrap-around, comprehensive prevention services and early intervention for HIV, STD, VH, and TB through the Department of Health. Although our incidence rates continue to rise, there is a significant need to continue to provide prevention and early intervention services to ensure disease management and continuity of care. Higher numbers of immigrants from different parts of the world migrate to American Samoa and increases the threat of HIV exposure and a higher incidence of HIV on the island. The current zero-prevalence data and cases of AIDS determine high risk groups in which we target for STD, TB and Hepatitis B testing and treatment. ASDOH and the LBJ Medical Center are committed to serving the health needs of American Samoa and preventing STD, HIV, TB, and VH infections. By doing so, we operate testing in a variety of clinics and the hospital to screen and treat.
ASDOH is focused on strengthening their efforts in STD, HIV, TB and VH prevention through its multi-purpose program and activities centered to control efforts through establishing effective partnerships, mobilizing necessary resources and ensuring quality diagnostic and treatment services under DOTS strategy.
The ASDOH is in alignment with the CDC logic model to integrate public health strategies approved by the CDC to 1) improve our efforts in integrations, 2) streamlining administration and reporting, 3) strengthening our health department, 4) providing prevention and treatment services, by utilizing this multipronged approach we are seeking to decrease the incidence of HIV, STDs, TB and VH, collect data in an effective way to determine quality improvements, providing trainings for the staff to stay up to date with new innovations to conduct services. Lastly, the program will continue to provide screening and treatment for HIV, STDs, TB/LTBI, and VH for MSM, Transgender, CSW, PWID, pregnant women, and racial and ethnic minority populations. By targeting the individuals at greatest risk and directing our resources to these communities, we will be able to provide the most comprehensive, wrap-around services to those in highest need. These multipronged efforts will lead to a healthier and disease free community.
The ASDOH will provide regular data management and quality assurance activities to ensure fidelity of each program. The evaluation of program activities to and outcome measures will determine the strategies and quality improvement measures the effectiveness of the work we continue to do.