[?]rvey Criticises

[?]landers’ are of Infants

Iss Sheila Malcolm’S

[survey of Diet and Nutrition in the Trust Territory of the ific Islands (meaning the Ameri [ Trust Territory of Micronesia) tters a few more fond South Sea lions. he survey has just been lished by the South Pacific Emission as Technical Paper 83 (2/- Stg.). iss Malcolm made this SPC rey between June and October, f to investigate the diet, rition, eating habits, and iw t h and development of Jonesian children from birth to [rears of age. le examined 1,007 children over ide area of this territory, which lists of 1,460 islands and reefs, of them permanently settled, l a total population of about X).

IR those who think of parts of Micronesia as probably some of the most “unspoiled” areas in Pacific, one of Miss Malcolm’s t surprising findings is in regard ifant feeding. le survey reports that only 24 cent of babies in the Marshall up are breast fed, in Yap 40 cent, in the Palaus 49 per cent, 'onape 58 per cent, and in Truk >er cent. le survey says that “early ease in breast milk secretion, lability of canned milk, and iging habits are probably the i causes.” lere is practically no fresh milk lable in the Territory, here breast feeding is still in le, Miss Malcolm reports that s almost invariably on the nand” system, and not by clock un. :cept near the main centres, re hygiene education is more meed there is litttle hygiene egard to botttle feeding, wertheless, though intestinal ns are common, the children lot seem to be much the worse, survey says that about 20 per of children seen were above, equivalent to, Australian dards as to weight, height, and ral development. Approximately >er cent, though weighing less ige than Australians, showed no s of retarded health. But 30 cent were far below Australian dards.

DGRESS seems to be retarded between the eighth and 14th months, when weaning takes e or milk is replaced by other s. iss Malcolm’s recommendations that breast feeding be en aged, and that efforts be made

to improve the availability of local foods by better means of distri bution, local food markets, etc., and that programmes of education on diet, nutrition, and hygiene be extended. t Heavy weather at Norfolk Island in September caused BP’s new Tulagi, on her first visit, to depart without discharging any of the freezer cargo—but after landing a “colossal amount” of beer, a corres

pondent reports.

t Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited has been awarded a £205,000 contract for the erection of 33 houses for the Administration at Port Moresby.