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A path to reduce chronic kidney disease burden in Samoa

Nature Reviews Nephrology (2026)Cite this article

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Early detection, strong primary care and community-based active conservative kidney management must form the foundation of Samoa’s response to chronic kidney disease (CKD). With diabetes driving the majority of CKD and kidney failure cases, prevention and primary care investment must be prioritized to enable the later expansion of nephrology services.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Samoan Cancer Society, Moto’otua, Apia, Samoa

    Malama Tafuna’i

  2. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Robert Walker

Authors
  1. Malama Tafuna’i
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  2. Robert Walker
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Positionality statement

M.T. is a Samoan primary care doctor based in Samoa, and is of Fijian descent. She served as the clinical director for the National Kidney Foundation of Samoa for several years before leaving to complete her PhD, which focused on the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease among Samoans in Samoa and Auckland, New Zealand. She is currently working in the space of palliative care in Samoa. R.W. is a New Zealander with a strong interest in improving the awareness and management of chronic kidney disease in the Pacific. He is the co-chair of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Pacific Working Group that is working collaboratively with Pacific Island colleagues to develop a strategic initiative to support and develop the kidney disease workforce in the Pacific.

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Correspondence to Robert Walker.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Tafuna’i, M., Walker, R. A path to reduce chronic kidney disease burden in Samoa. Nat Rev Nephrol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-026-01068-y

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