Clinic

First Dental

Samoa Leads South Seas in Teeth- Saving Campaign

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Apr. 10.

FOR years past, the Samoan Admini stration and its Medical Depart ment have recognised the urgent need to systematically combat dental

diseases amongst the Samoan population.

In 1936 the Administration decided to organise a Dental Division attached to the Department of Health, and at the be ginning of 1937 a New Zealand dental surgeon, Mr. J. Francon Williams, 8.D.5., N.Z., was appointed Dental Officer in Charge.

Since then the Dental Department has done valuable work, by examination of a large number of school children. Some very interesting data has been gathered, and this forms the basis for a systematic campaign now proceeding to propagate the importance of dental hygiene, and im press children and adults with the dan gers of neglect in the care of the teeth.

Dental disease is not only known amongst Samoan school children and adults, but seems to be steadily increasing, and is largely attributable to lack of oral hygiene, and a change in diet to Euro pean foodstuffs.

There seems no hope of preventing the spread of European foodstuffs. All the lecturing in the world would not per suade the Samoan to give up his cherished white bread, sugar, biscuits and tinned meat.

A fully equipped dental clinic and train ing school has been established at the Apia Government Hospital. There are six Samoan boys, all picked lads, undergoing training to become Native Dental Officers, and it will be their main task to keep watch on the teeth of school children, and carry out the maintenance work necessary. As well as advising the child ren on dental education, they will in struct the Samoans generally along simple preventive lines.

Mr. C. H. Beach, who has been ap pointed city engineer at Suva, Fiji, ar rived in the Colony by the “Monterey” on May 4.

Samoan dental trainees at work in the Dental School, Apia Hospital, under the direction of Mr. F. J. Williams.