Living Longer

People Are

In Fiji

From a Suva correspondent

Although the Fijian and

Indian birth rates for 1967 were slightly less than the average for the previous 10 years (28.35 per thousand compared with 32.6) the Government Medical Depart ment reports that life expectation for people in Fiji has increased by 4i years since 1956.

In a review of the Department’s work, the Minister for Social Ser vices, Mr. Vijay R. Singh, said that Fiji had one of the lowest infant mortality rates and one of the world’s lowest death rates.

He pointed out that with nearly £ll million being spent this year on health services, Fiji was spend ing more in this field per head of population than most other develop ing countries. This expenditure represented nearly 10 per cent, of the government’s total annual bud get.

Emphasising the government’s vigorous drive to provide more and improved hospital services, the Min ister said Fiji could expect to have six new hospitals during the next two or three years.

A feature of all the new hospitals will be specialised maternity accom modation, in keeping with the govern ment’s increased concentration on improved pre-natal and post-natal services.

Mr. Singh said that comprehensive immunisation services against various diseases, provided free for children, had considerably reduced and, in some cases, eradicated the incidence of poliomyelitis, diptheria, typhoid, tetanus, whooping cough and tuber culosis.

He emphasised the necessity for a reduction in Fiji’s birthrate.

“In this good health of the popula tion—the improvement of maternity and child welfare services, the elim ination or reduction of childhood diseases, the control of once wide spread diseases, the low death rate and the prolongation of life—lies a danger. It is the danger of over population,” he said.

“To make sure that the number of mouths to feed does not outstrip the food supplies available, volun tary family limitation is essential.”