Against Tuberculosis

Fiji Launches All-Out War Against Tuberculosis

From Our Own Correspondent

WITH the launching by the Governor (Sir Brian Freeston) of Fiji’s War Memorial Anti TB Fund, on August 16, the Colony, in effect, declared total war on tuberculosis, the greatest health menace in these islands.

In his broadcast address, Sir Brian said that in a single year (1948) 1,000 new cases of tuberculosis were discovered in Fiji. The statement was sensational as it gave great point to the frequent use of the word “appalling” in the mounting demand for an anti-tuberculo sis campaign during the last four years.

Further, the Medical Department does not claim that its survey is anything like comprehensive, and the figure of 1,000 new cases is almost certainly conserva tive.

The Governor has asked the public to find at least £40,000 between now and November 6 (Remembrance Day). The Government will subsidise this £ for £ up to a total contribution of £20,000.

The minimum initial capital expendi ture envisaged in the War Memorial Committee’s report is £33,000, but the Governor pointed out that every penny of this will be swallowed up by urgently needed tuberculosis hospital extensions at Suva and elsewhere.

The surplus over £33,000 will be taken over by a board of trustees (similar to the Lepers Trust Board) and will be used in any way that will help achieve the War Memorial objective—a drastic reduction in the incidence of tuberculo sis among all races, but particularly among the worst sufferers —the Fijians.

After the Governor’s speech, appeals were made to the Fijian and Indian peoples by Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna and Mr. Vishnu Deo respectively.

Probably no other appeal in Fiji’s 75 years’ history as a Crown Colony, has provoked so immediate and enthusiastic

a response. Within a few days district committees had been set up in every part of Fiji to forward the appeal and offers of voluntary assistance from pro fessional and business interests were flowing in to the Central Committee.

The War Memorial plan includes fur ther appeals to the public every year for ten years. It is perhaps significant that no word of criticism from any quarter has been made public regarding the ambitious scope and heavy financial demands of the campaign. On the other hand, there are many signs that the idea of commemorating the heroism and sacrifices of the Second World War by a united war against tuberculosis has caught the imagination of all sections to a unique degree.

The first donations listed by the Suva committee of the War Memorial Appeal are: Sir Brian and Lady Freeston £200; Miss Wanda Freeston, £10; Mr. Robert Crompton, £lOO.

SUVA, August 28.

OTHER large donations, in addition to those reported earlier, include those of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gatty (£200), Sir Maynard and Lady Hedstrom (£200), the Union Club (£105). Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna and Lady Maraia (£100) Mr. and Mrs. Alport Barker (£100), and the Levuka Sports Association (£107).

The Methodist Mission, to which most Fijians belong, is giving the fund its wholehearted support.