Work is progressing well on the expansion of the Tafuna Community Health Center.
Deputy Director of Health Vesi Fautanu Jr., who oversees the department’s construction projects, says the two-story community health center should be completed by June or July of next year.
A total of $13.4 million has been allocated for the project being built by PJ Construction. Along with clinics, pharmacy, and offices, one of the new features of the community health center is a cafeteria, said Vesi.
Also under construction is the Behavioral Health Center at Lions Park. The contractor for the project is Silva Group, and the design was done by William Spitzenberg. More than $20 million has been allocated for the center, including $5 million is for a dementia-friendly project.
Vesi said the deadline for the center to be completed is September next year.
Other ARPA funded projects for the Department of Health include construction of a new community health center in Tau, which will be relocated near Manua High School. The Silva Group is the contractor for that project. In addition, a Medevac and Recovery Center is underway at Fitiuta Airport, being built by Tony Construction.
Vesi said a challenge they’re facing is transporting construction materials to Manu’a, but he’s confident that the facilities will be finished before the December 2026 deadline for all ARPA projects to be completed.
Photo: Architectural drawing of Tafuna Community Health Center
