Anti-Filaria Campaign In
p. 66 · Read in the full issue
Cook Islands
STEPS taken to check filariasis in the Cook Islands are given prominence in the report of the Minister of Island Territories presented recently to the NZ Parliament.
Filariasis is prevalent in Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Pukapuka, which hold about 9,000 of the group’s population.
In September, 1946, Rarotonga was visited by Mr. D. W. Amos, of the Fiji Health Department, and a Fijian native inspector. They stayed for three months to make a mosquito survey and to train six local men in anti-mosquito measures.
Each of these trainees is now in charge of a district in Rarotonga. Later, it is hoped that some of them will be able to visit the outer islands and inaugurate mosquito-control measures there.
A native youth from Pukapuka, 700 miles north of Rarotonga, has been brought to Rarotonga, for training as a dresser and in mosquito-control work.
When he has completed his training he will return to Pukapuka to take charge of health work there until a resident native medical practitioner can be spared for the work.