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Dr Sione Tapa laid to rest [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Monday, May 14, 2018 - 19:12.  Updated on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - 05:17.

Dr Sione Tapa.

A Tongan philanthropist and former Minister of Health Dr Sione Tapa (94), who passed away last week, was laid to rest on Monday, May 14 in Nuku’alofa. His funeral service was held at the Centennial Church, Saione.

During Dr Tapa’s long distinguished career he served as Minister of Health from 1970 until the 1980s. He also served concurrently as a Minister of Finance.

In the region, he was elected President of the 30th World Health Assembly in 1977 and served as Chairman of the WHO Executive Board in the 1990s, among other roles, and was awarded the WHO 'Health for All' Gold Medal Citation.

During retirement he continued to make significant contributions to the advancement of health services in Tonga, and donated over $1 million pa'anga to a fund for the  'Tonga Health-Dr Tapa Scholarships  in Public Health'. The annual scholarships, which began in 2012 funded medical students to study abroad.

Dr Tapa was invested with the Order of Queen Salote Tupou III, Grand Cross, by King George Tupou V in the 2008 coronation honours.

Dr Tapa who lived at Kolonga in eastern Tongatapu, was an ex-student of Tonga College.

Dr Sione Tapa attended the opening of the Vaiola Hospital renovations, Nuku'alofa, 4 May 2012.
Dr Sione Tapa, as Minister of Health, with Lord Simon Glenarthur of Carlung, at the old Vaiola Hospital. c1980s.
Tonga [2]
Dr Sione Tapa [3]
death [4]
funeral service [5]
Tonga Health [6]
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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2018/05/14/dr-sione-tapa-laid-rest

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[1] https://matangitonga.to/2018/05/14/dr-sione-tapa-laid-rest [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/dr-sione-tapa?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/death?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/funeral-service?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-health?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/topic/people?page=1