Saia Ma’u Piukala is a Tongan politician, surgeon, and former Cabinet Minister.
Saia Ma’u Piukala | |
|---|---|
 Saia Piukala in 2018 | |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 28 December 2021 – 12 January 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Preceded by | ʻAmelia Afuhaʻamango Tuʻipulotu |
| Succeeded by | Siale ‘Akau’ola |
| In office 30 December 2014 – 10 October 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |
| Preceded by | Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu |
| Succeeded by | ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu |
| Minister for Internal Affairs and Sports | |
| In office 23 January 2019 – 10 October 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Losaline Ma'asi |
| Succeeded by | Vatau Hui |
| Minister for Public Enterprises | |
| In office 4 January 2018 – 23 January 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Poasi Tei |
| Succeeded by | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |
| Member of Parliament for Vavaʻu 14 | |
| In office 27 November 2014 – 12 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lisiate ‘Akolo |
| Succeeded by | Mo’ale ‘Otunuku |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | none |
Piukala was trained as a surgeon at the Fiji School of Medicine in Suva, Fiji.[1] Before entering politics he worked as a surgeon for the Tongan Ministry of Health.[1] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga as representative for Vavaʻu 14 in the 2014 Tongan general election and was appointed Minister of Health in the cabinet of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva. He was re-elected in the 2017 election and reappointed as Minister of Health and Public Enterprises.[2] In January 2019 a minor reshuffle saw him swap his Public Enterprises portfolio for Internal Affairs.[3]
In May 2019 Piukala was appointed to the World Health Organization executive board.[4]
Following the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva and his replacement by Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa in October 2019 he was not reappointed to Tuʻiʻonetoa's new Cabinet.[5]
He was re-elected in the 2021 election.[6] On 28 December 2021 he was appointed to the Cabinet of Siaosi Sovaleni as Minister of Health.[7]
On 12 January 2024 he resigned as a Minister and from parliament to take up a role as WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region Office.[8] He was replaced as health minister by Siale ‘Akau’ola.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Building Our Capacities Panel: Keynote Speaker" (PDF). Pasifika Medical Association. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Prime Minister Pōhiva submits his cabinet lineup to the Tongan king". Asia-Pacific Report. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Tongan cabinet reshuffled". RNZ. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Tonga health minister made WHO executive". RNZ. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ ""Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers"". Government of Tonga. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala leaves Tonga government to take up regional role". Matangi Tonga. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Dr 'Akau'ola takes over as new Minister for Health after Dr Piukala's move to WHO". Kaniva Tonga. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
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