'More Money Needed'

Kieta's Medical Problem

'More Money Needed' For Outstations

From a Bougainville Correspondent All sections of the community in the Kieta area of Bougainville, are very concerned with the Public Health Departments present policy of send ing the only European Medical Assistant out on prolonged patrols.

WHILST the EMA is on patrol the hospital is in charge of native medical orderlies. Whilst not detracting from the work done by the native medical orderlies, they are not qualified to cope with serious cases.

Kieta hospital such it is serves a large area and population. Kieta is also a port of entry for overseas ships.

If the native medical orderlies are sufficiently trained to be in charge of a hospital, surely they would be capable of doing patrols, sending serious cases to the hospital. The man with the highest qualifications available should be stationed at the hospital. What is the use of a hospital with all the instruments, drugs, etc., when the only person able to use them is three days walk away over the hills, doing a patrol mainly concerned with finding out the diet of village natives?

Some 48 years, ago Kieta had a doctor, but not now. Even the week end emergency radio service with District Headquarters has been curtailed.

The time is overdue when the Public Health Department must spend

more on the outstations, insteas £500,000 hospitals in main cen No doubt a couple of these hos]£ make a bigger splurge in the i papers of the world, compares numerous £20,000 hospitals pc in strategic areas with a comp staff to run them.

The recent statement in Parlias by the Minister for Territories some 77 new hospitals in the t five years is a hopeful sign, be least let there be some comp person in charge of outst< hospitals at all times now.

Kieta hopes shortly to have an overseas —or any wharf! At present cargo is and unloaded with surf boats. Those working here are from the "Tulagi". new wharf will be built off the pointr at left in the background, near the b[?]