CARE PROVIDED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 7

CARE PROVIDED

MALARIA SUFFERERS

ELIGIBLE FOR WAR PENSIONS

P.A. WELLINGTON, Friday. The provision made for the treatment of malaria amongst service personnel while on service and subsequent to. their discharge from the forces, was outlined by the Minister of Defence. Mr. Jones. He said that ever since members of the Armed Forces first served in malarious areas oveiseas, lull provision had been made to protect them from the results of infection, and also to give those who contract the disease, whatever subsequent treatment might lie necessary. Up to the time of their final discharge from the forces this was entirely the responsibility of the Armed Forces' Medical Services, Those who suffered a recurrence of malaria subsequent'to their discharge were entitled to free hospital and medical treatment, just as for any other form of acute illness; but. in addition, as sufferers from a disability arising from war service, they were eligible for war pensions. The full disability war pension may be paid for any period of total disablement, followed in cases of subsequent partial disablement by a war pension, variable according to the degree of disability.

, The Minister said that during the time the New Zealand forces had been operating in the Pacific, very close attention had been given by the medical officers of the Department of Health and Armed Forces to the question of malaria. On proceeding to a malarious area, each member of the forces was issued with a malaria record card, or. which was kept a record of any attacks of malaria suffered by the holder while on service. The reverse side of the card bore instructions relating to precautionary measures, and also instructed the holder as to \\ hat action to take should he develop an attack while on leave in New Zealand. The Minister added that before returning to New Zeala.id personnel of the Third Div.sion were held in New Caledonia until they had been four weeks..without.'a . regular dosage of atebrin, formerly taken as a suppressive for the disease. This period without treatment was regarded as sufficient to allow the suppressive action of atebrin to be lost, and thus reveal the majority of cases who harboured latent infection. "However, the medical authorities are well aware that in a number of cases attacks of malaria may recur many weeks, or even months, after exposure to infection. It is considered that the provisions I have outlined deal adequately with these cases," said the Minister.

Ex-servicemen could rest assured, concluded the Minister, that it was the Government's intention to make every possible provision for all cases of continuing or recurring physical disability arising from war service.