Mosquito Control

Fiji's Plan Going Ahead

rE anti-filariasis campaign in Fiji organised by the Mosquito Control Branch of the Medical Department, is well under way.

Plans for the campaign were made m April. 1944, when it was decided to bring a number of Fijians from each provincial centre into Suva for a course of training.

In this training, the relation of the mos quito to filariasis was fully explained and methods of eradicating the mosquito taught. . . , .

The first batch of trainees arrived in Suva in July and the commencement of their training coincided with the visit to the Colony of Major James Knott, an American filariasis expert.

Major Knott demonstrated a keen interest in the training of the filariasis team and explained in detail techniques which he had himself devised for carry ing out blood surveys and for reducing elephantiasis swellings bv bandaging.

Bv October, the preliminary training of teams had been completed and a number of experimental larval and blood survevs were carried out. On February 23. 1945. the first fully-trained team of inspectors left Suva to begin work in its own province. Lau. This team was accompanied by Assistant Mosquito In spector Jdni D. Silatolu.

A second team, which is to take over inspection work in Tailevu Province, is in active training: and training has also begun for a third team, which is to be sent to Lomaiviti.

Under the scheme, all trainees must acauire a thorough knowledge of‘ the various types of mosouito found in Fiji roust be fble to identify all larvae and adults and must know the habits and breeding places of each species and the best method of eradication. The trainees arp also expected to acouire a good know ledge of the cause and symptoms of the disease filariasis and are taught Maior Knott’s method of bandaging swollen limbs. The trainees learn, as a team, to undertake anv nart of the work associated with the carrying out of blood survevs and the Senior Mosouito Inspector reports that this is work for which they show great aptitude and keenness.

F training, these filariasis teams are using p manual which been pre pared bv Mr David W. Amos, the Senior Mosouito Inspector. He is a re tired businessman, who became a mos ouito inspector as his contribution to tbe wartime manpower shortage. Very rapidly he acouired an intimate knowledge of his subject, and while the ways in which he had gained that knowledge were still fresh in his mind, he determinqfi to pass them on. This manual is the result.

In Townsville, early in May, Halahoe, a New Guinea native, employed in the engine-room of a ship, was fined £3 for threatening to cut the throat of the chief engineer, John Peddie, because the latter would not supply him with tobacco. The crew had been without tobacco for a fort night, and the native understood that Peddie had some—and Peddie was his boss. He drew a sheath knife, slashed the chief’s shirt, and made passes at his throat. “A white master, or Taubada, in similar circumstances, would not have got off so lightly,” remarks a Papuan resident, in sending on the newspaper cutting.

The Commander of a section of United States Marines wrote recently to the secretary of the Seventh Day Adventist Conference in Washington, expressing the gratitude which he and his men felt

towards Mr. Robert Salau, a native SDA missionary in the Gilbert Islands. He said: “Salau is a remarkable man. He is extremely intelligent, dignified, and had the respect of every one of us. He contrived to hold his people with him and to hold them as Christians throughout the two arduous years of Jap occupation of the Gilbert Group.

Mrs. A. C. Dickson, formerly headmistress of the Suva Girls’ Grammar School, has become totally and permanently blind. Her friends in New Zealand and Fiji are making plans to help her to overcome the disabilities resulting

from this affliction. Fiji residents who would like further details are asked to get in touch with the headmaster of the Suva Boys’ Grammar School, Mr. C. L.

Brock. xhe Rev. and Mrs. Williamson have been appointed Presbyterian missionaries i n the New Hebrides, and after up-to-date training, will proceed to the appointment.

The Rev. Maurice and Mrs. Nixon, who have served with the LMS in Papua for many years, have now returned to Eng land. Before leaving, they were enter tained and a presentation of books made to them.