Tagaloa Dr Andrew Chan Mow wins award

A Samoan-born doctor who once dreamed of becoming a marine biologist but was convinced by his mother to become a doctor is the recipient of the Pacific Health and Wellbeing Award announced at the SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards held recently at the Eden Park Function Centre.

Tagaloa Dr Andrew Chan Mow, Clinical Director of SouthSeas Healthcare wins the Health and Wellbeing Award, sponsored by Pasifika Futures, which recognises individuals in the community who strive to improve the health and wellbeing of Pacific People.

Dr Chan Mow has a wealth of experience in Pacific primary healthcare, having worked as a general practitioner in South Auckland for the last 20 years.

He was among the funding group of Pacific health professionals who started SouthSeas Healthcare in the South Auckland suburb of Otara in 1999.

Dr Chan Mow has a wealth of experience in Pacific primary healthcare, having worked as a general practitioner in South Auckland for the last 20 years.

He was among the funding group of Pacific health professionals who started SouthSeas Healthcare in the South Auckland suburb of Otara in 1999.

Dr Chan Mow, along with Dr Teuila Percival, Dr Suitafa Debbie Ryan and Dr Siro Fuatai had a shared vision to provide a Pacific primary healthcare provider in Otara to meet the complex health needs of the Pacific community.

A vision that was built 19 years ago, which has now flourished into the largest Pacific health provider, delivering a range of clinic, community and social services throughout South Auckland.

He has previously worked in hospitals in Dunedin, Palmerston North, Auckland and Samoa.

Earlier this year, Dr Chan Mow featured in the media voicing his concerns about the high number of patients asking for support letters to get into subsidised housing. He got behind the voices of vulnerable families to point out that poor housing standards, lack of heating, insulation and overcrowding contribute to sickness, impacting on family health.

Dr Chan Mow is passionate about serving the Pacific community and strives to work with other Pacific doctors in providing excellent health outcomes for families in South Auckland.

Dr Chan Mow grew up in the village of Saleufi on the island of Upolu. His mother hails from the village of Safune on the big island of Savaii and his father from China, immigrating to Samoa as one of many indentured Chinese labourers in the 1930s.

He is incredibly honoured to receive the award, which comes at an auspicious time as SouthSeas is gearing up to celebrate its 20th Anniversary in February 2019.

SouthSeas Healthcare congratulates other recipients and their families and acknowledges the team at SunPix for staging such a fantastic event to celebrate Pacific excellence.