Western Samoan Doctor Studies Health Services

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30110, 19 April 1963, Page 5

Western Samoan Doctor Studies Health Services

The Western Samoan heal th service was very grateful for the help it received from New Zealand. Dr. Tapeni . aai’uaso, secretary to the Western Samoan director of health, said in Christchurch yesterday. Dr Faai’uaso is on a fourmbnths' visit to the Dominion to study health services here. Yesterday he spent some time with the Christchurch medical officer of health (Dr L. F. Jepson), with whom he worked when Dr. Jepson was medical officer of health at Apia. Western Samoa had much the same health problems as New Zealand, but with the addition of a few tropical diseases. none of which was particularly prevalent. Dr. Faai’uaso said. The main emphasis in the health service. which was entirely Governmtrt-run. was on prevention There were 48 doctors <43 Fijian-qualified and five qualified in Western countries), giving a ratio of one doctor to 2500 population, against one to 900 in New Zealand. The director ot health and all but two of the other practitioners were Samoans.

The doctors all worked from hospitals, either _ the central hospital in Apia or one of the 15 district hospitals. The hospitals took general cases and difficult maternity cases, deliveries in uncomplicated cases being usually made at home. The rate of mortality among mothers and children had fallen greatly of recent years, a good deal of the credit going to women’s vol-

untary committees somewhat on Plunket Society lines, which flourished in the villages. Dr. Faai’uaso also said that nurses at the central hospital included six Samoan nurses with New Zealand registration, and a number of New Zealand nurses. The matron was a New Zealander, but her deput. was Samoan. Water supplies were almost everywhere good, but sanitation' was a problem. Plans were completed for the country’s first sewerage system, which was expected to be installed in Apia next year.

In Christchurch, Dr. Faai’uaso has visited the Dominion X-ray and Radium Laboratory, which provides his country’s radiation monitoring system.