ANZGITA – Samoa 2026

This years’ ANZGITA visit to Samoa was a special milestone as it marked the 10th anniversary of ANZGITA training and teaching Gastroenterology at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Apia.

Karen Gower, RN, her husband George, both from outside Christchurch, Katy Grove, RN from Geelong, myself - Prof. Michael Schultz, and Dr Leshni Pillay from the Royal Melbourne Hospital together with the local expertise of Dr Talia Charlotte Johnston, Dr Foloto Leavai, Dr Sione Pifeleti, Dr Tavita Scot and Charge Nurse Talaloa Taape led a one-week program of extensive training, both hands-on and didactic. Approximately 5 junior doctors and many more nurses participated. It was interesting to see the different skill sets although most of the participants had completed the ANZGITA 4 week core program in Fiji earlier.

Each day we completed 6-10 gastroscopies and colonoscopies. There was a lot of progress made during the busy week with many firsts - the first caecum reached, the first polyp removed and much more. Emphasis was not only placed on endoscopy skills but also on the ‘before’ and ‘after’ including indication, potential complications, equipment as well as treatment and aftercare. Afternoons were dedicated to scope cleaning practice and hands-on teaching of dilatations, hot snare use and varices banding.

The week went far too fast and we could have done so much more. Thanks to the great organisation, awesome hospitality and friendliness, we all had a great week. The highlight at the end of the week was the official handing over of 2 endoscopes and a leak tester from ANZGITA to the Ministry of Health of Samoa but also the fantastic dinner with prizegiving for the fastest time to the caecum, most improved novice, future orthopaedic surgeon and much more.

Please don’t miss Dr Charlotte Johnston’s presentation at ASM 2026 in Christchurch.

If you are interested in working with ANZGITA, please look us up on www.anzgita.org or contact Michael or Karen.