Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Women, Community and Social Development | |
| In office 27 April 2019 –9 April 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi |
| Preceded by | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers |
| Succeeded by | Leota Laki Lamositele |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 21 March 2011 –27 April 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow |
| Succeeded by | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers |
| Member of the Samoa Parliament for Aana Alofi No. 1 East | |
| In office 4 March 2011 –9 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Aiono Tile Gafa |
| Succeeded by | Fesolai Apulu Tuigamala |
| Member of the Samoa Parliament for Va'a-O-Fonoti | |
| In office 2 March 2001 –4 March 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Molio'o Teofilo |
| Succeeded by | Tialavea Fea Tionisio Seigafolava |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Human Rights Protection Party |
Dr Tuitama Leao Talalelei Tuitama is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Tuitama trained as a medical doctor,working at Samoa National Referral Hospital and in private practice. [1] He served as the president of Samoa's GP's association. [2]
He is married to Letelemalanuola Tuitama and is a member of the EFKS Church. [3]
He was first elected to Parliament in the 2001 Samoan general election,representing the seat of Va'a-O-Fonoti. He was re-elected in 2006,but had to defend an electoral petition accusing him of corrupt practices. [4] He was subsequently appointed Associate Minister of Health,a position he held from 2006 to 2010. [1]
At the 2011 election Tuitama shifted seat to A'ana Alofi No. 1,and after being elected was appointed Minister of Health. [5] He was re-elected in the 2016 election,and retained his portfolio. [6] [7] As Health Minister he focused on non-communicable diseases, [1] [8] [9] and oversaw a merger of health agencies. [10]
In April 2019 he was replaced as Health Minister by Faimalotoa Kika Stowers in a cabinet reshuffle,taking up Stowers' portfolio of Women,Community and Social Development. [11] [12] In that role,he encouraged vaccination to combat the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak. [13]
In October 2020 he decided not to stand at the April 2021 election. [14]
In February 2021 he warned Samoa's village mayors that they must support the government or resign. [15]