Islanders
pp. 40-41 · Read in the full issue
Saving Pacific
What Medical Science Is Accomplishing.
TO increase the longevity of the Pacific native, and stop the excessive mortal ity among the people of the islands, is a most important factor in consider ing the future of the Pacific (says the Suva correspondent of “The Sydney Morning Herald”).
This movement has been largely made possible by the liberality of the Rocke feller Foundation, and it speaks well for the wise governing of the natives by Britain that the local officials have fully co-operated with the representative of the foundation.
So far, three important stages have already been reached —the medical sur veys, carried out by Dr. Lambert, the foundation representative, in co-opera tion with local doctors: the inauguration of the child Welfare scheme, whereby the infant mortality among Fijians fell from about 14 per 1,000 to a little more than 3 per 1,000; and the establishment of a Central Medical School in Suva, where advanced scholars from the na tive high schools, throughout the West ern Pacific are gathered under a skilled
tutor, and go through a four years’ me dical course.
The men after gaining their diplomas go out to their respective island groups as medical practitioners. Already many have proved distinct successes in their profession, and very skilful at operations.
In furtherance of the scheme, Dr.
Lambert has set off in the yacht Zaca, owned and sailed by Mr. Crocker, of San Francisco, to the New Hebrides and the Solomons, but especially the islands of Rennell (so little known) and Bellona.
Dr. Lambert proposes to carry out a survey in general health and for tuber culosis. Mr. Crocker also has in his party an anthropologist, an entomologist, a botanist, and an expert photographer.
He hopes to obtain valuable data from the less known islands he will visit.
In further pursuance of a similar ob ject, Dr. Arthur Torrance is now in Fiji.
He is engaged upon research into dis eases prevalent among the natives.
As a result of the activities of Dr.
Lambert, an intensive campaign has been proceeding for some years in vac cinating natives and Indians, and in oculating them against typhoid fever, and also giving them treatment for hookworm and other complaints. This work is now being continued by trained officers, and is showing fine results.