Wound care around the world: American Samoa

Chronic wounds are on the increase throughout the world and although wound etiologies vary across geographical locations, as wound care professionals we share a common goal to improve our patients' quality of life to prevent, protect and promote wound healing.

In 2019, Nancy Morgan traveled to American Samoa - US territory islands south of the equator between Hawaii and New Zealand. She went to meet her family and provide wound care training to physicians and nurses at the only hospital, Lyndon B Johnson (LBJ) Tropical Medical Center. Nancy undertook this work to address the health challenges American Samoan people face, namely, chronic diseases, obesity and risk of developing chronic wounds and complications.

Since Nancy's visit in 2019, the clinicians who attended her wound education training became wound care certified. In September 2023, she returned to American Samoa to see how well they were doing, offer additional education and assistance, and offer support to serve the Samoan people.