| Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama | |
| Office3: | Minister of Women, Community and Social Development |
| Primeminister3: | Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi |
| Term Start3: | 27 April 2019 |
| Term End3: | 9 April 2021 |
| Predecessor3: | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers |
| Successor3: | Leota Laki Lamositele |
| Office4: | Minister of Health |
| Term Start4: | 21 March 2011 |
| Term End4: | 27 April 2019 |
| Predecessor4: | Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow |
| Successor4: | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers |
| Constituency Mp5: | Aana Alofi No. 1 East |
| Parliament5: | Samoa |
| Term Start5: | 4 March 2011 |
| Term End5: | 9 April 2021 |
| Predecessor5: | Aiono Tile Gafa |
| Successor5: | Fesolai Apulu Tuigamala |
| Constituency Mp6: | Va'a-O-Fonoti |
| Parliament6: | Samoa |
| Term Start6: | 2 March 2001 |
| Term End6: | 4 March 2011 |
| Predecessor6: | Molio'o Teofilo |
| Successor6: | Tialavea Fea Tionisio Seigafolava |
| Party: | Human Rights Protection Party |
Dr Tuitama Leao Talalelei Tuitama is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Tuitama trained as a medical doctor, working at Samoa National Referral Hospital and in private practice.[1] He served as the president of Samoa's GP's association.[2]
He is married to Letelemalanuola Tuitama and is a member of the EFKS Church.[3]
He was first elected to Parliament in the 2001 Samoan general election, representing the seat of Va'a-O-Fonoti. He was re-elected in 2006, but had to defend an electoral petition accusing him of corrupt practices.[4] He was subsequently appointed Associate Minister of Health, a position he held from 2006 to 2010.[1]
At the 2011 election Tuitama shifted seat to A'ana Alofi No. 1, and after being elected was appointed Minister of Health.[5] He was re-elected in the 2016 election, and retained his portfolio.[6] [7] As Health Minister he focused on non-communicable diseases,[1] [8] [9] and oversaw a merger of health agencies.[10]
In April 2019 he was replaced as Health Minister by Faimalotoa Kika Stowers in a cabinet reshuffle, taking up Stowers' portfolio of Women, Community and Social Development.[11] [12] In that role, he encouraged vaccination to combat the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak.[13]
In October 2020 he decided not to stand at the April 2021 election.[14]
In February 2021 he warned Samoa's village mayors that they must support the government or resign.[15]