Where It's Fun At The Dentist,

And No-One Ever Dies

From BETTY SANFT, in Nukualofa

A most unusual celebration took place recently on the tiny island of Mo’unga’one in the central Tongan Group. The 300 inhabitants held a combined service of thanksgiving followed by a feast, when it was realised that no-one had died on the island for over two years.

The islanders, who live in thatched houses and subsist on a frugal diet of sea food, root vege tables and fruit, will make this an annual event as long as their luck lasts. There is no resident medical officer, and local women prescribe massage and herbal remedies for the variety of ail ments they meet.

On a neighbouring island of equal size is a crude stone monu ment erected some 40 years ago during a similar celebration. On this occasion there had been no deaths for over 10 years.

The Tongan race are, in fact, naturally healthy—due to the ex cellent climate, abundance of natural foods, a healthy and ener getic way of life and a cheerful approach to it.

Today Tonga is well served with hospitals in the three main centres and a resident medical officer for the remote northern islands. But there are only two overseas trained doctors, assisted by 20 medical officers trained at the Fiji School of Medicine.

There is only one overseas trained dentist, nine assistants trained in Fiji and four untrained assistants. The outer islands have no resident practitioner, but three years ago Australia donated a mobile dental unit and officers visit these islands regularly.

This willing team of hard work ing doctors and dentists attend to the free health of the entire popu lation of 88,000 —a ratio of 4,400

patients for each doctor and 8,800 for each dentist.

In Tonga a visit to the dentist is almost a pleasure. There is no professional humbug—no dental nurses —and usually no waiting.

The qualified dentist makes a check and straight on to the job.

If it is only a clean an assistant takes over. If more is required, treatment begins and each patient finished wherever possible.

The four or five dental chairs are occupied for eight or more hours a day and there is no pro fessionalism involving extra ap pointments for temporary fillings, or X-rays if they are not essential.

The boss is a Doctor of Dentistry—young, efficient and knowledgeable, and needs to be.

After all, the population is increas ing at the rate of 3.5 per cent, annually, which for him means more work, but not more income.