This grant proposal seeks funding to implement a comprehensive program that aims to upgrade mortuary services in american samoa

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs awarded $156,160 to the American Samoa Medical Center Authority (operating as LBJ Tropical Medical Center) on November 3, 2025, under the Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories program (CFDA 15.875) to upgrade mortuary services in American Samoa through September 30, 2029. The project addresses critical gaps in mortuary workforce development and infrastructure by hosting two certified morticians from the United States to conduct capacity-building training workshops for local mortuary staff who currently rely on experiential learning methods. Additionally, the grant funds the procurement of modern embalming and dissecting tools, along with personal protective equipment (PPE), to enhance occupational safety and service quality standards.

This comprehensive initiative contributes to the territory's public health infrastructure by establishing culturally sensitive, safe, and standardized mortuary practices that meet professional and public health standards. The project directly supports infection control, disaster preparedness, occupational safety, and dignified end-of-life care services across American Samoa's healthcare system, benefiting the territory's approximately 55,000 residents. As a critical component of the medical center's broader workforce development strategy, the mortuary services upgrade aligns with the Office of Insular Affairs' mandate to address gaps in federal assistance and support institutional capacity building in U.S. insular territories.

The project will address the lack of formal education among mortuary staff, who currently learn through experiential methods, and the shortage of proper and updated equipment necessary for safe and dignified care of the deceased. The project will include hosting two certified morticians from the united states for a capacity-building training workshop. IT will also include the procurement of modern embalming/dissecting tools and personal protective equipment (PPE), thereby enhancing the quality, efficiency, and dignity of post-mortem care, as well as the safety of personnel rendering the care. The initiative aims to ensure culturally sensitive, safe, and standardized mortuary practices that meet public health and professional standards. This project is a public health priority, contributing to infection control, disaster preparedness, occupational safety, and dignified end-of-life care.