Expenditure on Health Near
pp. 71-72 · Read in the full issue
P-Ng Infant Mortality Is
25 Per Cent.
Expenditure on Health Near Half Million
IT was stated in Canberra in June that the overall mortality rate among native infants in Papua-New Guinea is probably 250 in 1,000. In some areas in which medical services are not fully operative, it is anything up to 500 deaths per 1,000 live births. It was pointed out that in its present state of development, it was impossible to get absolutely accu rate vital statistics for the native popu lation of the Territory.
It was stated, also, that Medical Ser vices for Papua-New Guinea for the year 1948-49 cost £489,000.
The above information was made avail able in a reply to questions put by Sena tor Kendall.
Mr. N. B. Casey, former Superinten dant of Prisons in Fiji, and Mrs. Casey were in Fiji in June on a holiday visit from Sydney.
The agreement establishing the South Pacific Health Service has been extended for a further five years from January 1, 1950. It was established in 1946 between Governments of New Zealand, Fiji and the Western Pacific High Commission.
The Service covers Fiji, Tonga, G and E Islands Colony, BSIP, Western Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and the Tokelaus.
The Service is advisory but also recruits and trains staff for health work. The executive head is the Inspector General,
who also is at present Director of Medi cal Services, Fiji.
The Commonwealth Department of Works and Housing is offering carpenters £l3/3/10 per week, a free air trip, and meals and accommodation at 16/6 per week if they will go to work on Australia’s most denuded Naval Base at Manus Island. There is only one catch—men cannot take their families with them, so single men are preferred.