Tb In Tonga
p. 38 · Read in the full issue
WHEN Mrs. E. Marie Irvine, a Sydney writer, returned from Tonga in 1939, she referred at a meeting of the Pacific Islands Society to the amount of tuberculosis in Tonga, and advocated modern means to deal with the scourge.
Dr. J. C. Lopdell, in Wellington, recently, described his experiences as district medi cal officer at Vavau, and accused the Tongan Government of shutting its eyes to unpleasant facts. The Tongans, he said, were apathetic, and, as they con trolled themselves through a Government that declined to recognise facts, their country was not the “Pacific paradise”
that some writers liked to depict. No steps, he added, were being taken to con trol the tremendous amount of preven table disease among young and old.
Such a serious accusation should re ceive the attention of the Tongan Government. Tuberculosis has been fought successfully among other native races. Admittedly, times are hard, but the health of its people should be the first concern of any administration.
“Vakatini.”
Mr. John Robins, one of Guinea Air ways’ pilots arrived in Sydney by air liner in April, on furlough.