Doing for Pacific

What Army is Doing for Pacific Islanders

From Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, May 21.

NEW Zealanders returning from Nissan (Green) Island say that the natives there are in a poor way—one of the chief scourges being yaws. The Treasury Island natives, on the other hand, seemed in good shape, and their assistance to the men of the landing parties there was much appreciated.

The New Zealanders have sent many Nissan natives to Guadalcanal for yaws treatment, and the following official NZEF report, of April 28, shows how important is the task undertaken by Allied medical officers in this area: -

WHEREVER Allied military forces

have been stationed in the South Pacific their medical officers have always found time to attend to the native populations of the various tropical islands lying within reach.

“Yaws is almost universal in this corner of the world. It is in many ways similar to syphilis, and, though it gives rise to painful disfiguring ulcers and other dis abilities, it is not usually fatal, and moist important of all, is cured with ease, merely by a few injections.

“The effect of even a single injection of an arsenical drug is almost miraculous, and one of the most dramatic in the whole field of medicine. Ghastly ulcers which have been present for one to two years are healed within a few days, and the profound effect of this on the im pressionable minds of the natives can readily be imagined. This is reflected in their eagerness to obtain these pheno menal injections.

“With whole families living almost naked in overcrowded huts, conditions for the spread of contagious diseases are

perfect, and it is not surprising that mortality rates among all age groups are appalling in comparison with those of our own countries. It was under these condi tions that doctors and missionaries worked for many years, toiling with a minimum of medical supplies.

“They were trying to cope with the im possible, but their labours did bear fruit, and in the areas where they worked liv ing conditions improved and a corres ponding decrease in sickness was notice able. In 1942, however, the Japanese drive southward into New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomons interrupted this work, with rapid regression during the past two years as a result.

“Tt/fEDICAL treatment is regarded by ITA the natives as an integral part of British rule, which they have now come to expect, and, even apart from the tremendous improvement to their health, it also acts as an intense mental stimulus, giving them a new interest in life.

“They show their deep gratitude in many ways, not the least of which has been in their magnificent help to our military forces in combat with the Japa nese. They have been instrumental in saving hundreds of American, Australian and New Zealand lives.

“Thus it is that our medical services have made a most important, but little known, contribution to the tactical aspects of warfare in this zone, carried out in addition to their normal tasks, which have been completed with praise worthy efficiency.”

Dr. M. M. Gowland, accompanied by his wife and son, recently arrived in Apia, Samoa, to join the staff of the Govern ment Hospital as surgeon. He is a Cana dian, although he has practised in Eng land, and was in London and Coventry during the blitz. He has been lecturing at the Dunedin Medical School for the past eighteen months.