Health in Samoa

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 190, 13 August 1936, Page 5

Health in Samoa

Serious Infant Mortality

BATTLE AGAINST DISEASE

(Written by the United Press Association's representative -with the Government’s Mission to Samoa,)

Health: Epidemics of whooping cough and measles have resulted in the loss of between two and threo hundred lives in Western Samoa this year, but otherwise the general health of the population has been good. Whooping cough made its appearance about tho beginning of April. It was brought over by peoplo from Suva, and soon spread round the islands of Upolu and Savai’i, causing a number of deaths, chiefly from broncho-pneumonia. In one oi two districts where tho infection arrived a little later, the mortality rate was lower on account of the employment of modern methods of treatment. Whooping cough has abated considerably, although fresh cases were still being reported in July. Childien suffering irom measles first came under medicai notice on April 17, and because of tho whooping eougk elforts to prevent the ailment from spreading were redoubled. Tho situation was soon brought under control, the outbreak being confined to three villages, which were placed under quarantine. tu its general supervision over the health of the mixed population of Samoa the functions of tho Health Department are widespread. The Chic' Medical Officer, Dr. P. J. Monaghan, with the aid of an efficient stall, is rendering a splendid service under very trying conditions. The commonest tropical diseases are yaws, ankylostomiasis' (hookworm), and filariasis. Eighteen years ago, when Mr. D. A. J. Rutherford, of Ecu’ Zealand, now superintendent of schools, Apia, went to Samoa to take up the worn of education there, he leported that most of the youngsters were covered with sores and suffering from ’eye disease. To-day, thanks to an intensive campaign carried out by medical men in co-operation with tho teachers, the pupils are a joy to behold. The fight against yaws commenced in 1023, wnen, on the recommendation ol Dr. Ritchie, a tax of £1 a head was agreed to by the Samoans, who were treated free for all complaints. When tho Mau trouble developed in 1026 there was a falling-off in the number of attendances. Tnroe years later free medical attention was to a certain extent withdrawn, and the Samoans were required to pay for injections and other forms of treatment. In 1032 yaws was again the cause of much suffering. The Rockefeller foundation, through its representative in the Pacific, Dr. Lambert, set to work to relieve the position, and a vast improvement in conditions resulted. The campaign has been continued ever since. Two years ago Dr. Ileoser, of New York, made a tour of the territory, accompanied by Dr. Lambert, who later visited Western Samoa with Dr. Watt, of New Zealand. The percentage of natives suffering from yaws is now very small. White children living under proper conditions rarely contract this disease in Samoa. In Apia there is a public hospital with accommodation for a hundred or more patients. The average monthly number of inmates is between 60 and 70. The institution, which has divisions or wards for Europeans, Samoans and Chinese, has a very competent staff, which includes the chief medical officer and threo doctors, a matron, seven trained European sisters, several nurses, two native medical practitioners or N.M.P.’s as they are called, a bacteriologist, a dispenser and a Chinese dresser. In addition, there are four native cadets who are ultimately designed to go to Suva to complete their medicai training. Apia hospital is used aiso as a training centre for Samoan nurses. One of tho difficulties .the officials are faced with is the number of resignations through marriage, and as the gilds are not easily replaced interruption in training is inevitable. Excellent work is being done an the villages by women ; s committees, some 115 of wnicli were established by Dr. Turbctt, of New Zealand, during his nine months’ sojourn in tho Territory last year as chief medicai officer. The committee consist of women of both political sectiuus who work in harmony aor the benciit of their sex. They show a keen desire to obtain as much knowledge as possible. Child welfare workers visit committees within a reasonable distance, and in addition call on mothers, treat their babies if sick, and jpve advice about tho proper care and treatment of children. When refresher courses are held in Apia the teachers from the schools are lectured on health and preventive medicine. Part of the knowledge they re ceive is incorporated in the'school lessons. Visits to the schools are paid also by the N.M.P.’s, who aro performing a most valuable service among their own people. Their duties include regular inspection of the villages under their charge, and the giving of talks on sanitation. Outside of Apia, the island of Upolu is divided into four native districts. At Aleipata, the eastern point, there is a small hospital dispensary with a native medical practitioner and two. nurses, one of whom has had child welfare training. In the other districts N.M.P.'s alone are stationed. On the island of Savai’i a hospital dispensary, with two trained nurses and an assistant nurse, meets local needs.

The greatest mortality is among children under the ago of two years, and measures' to prevent this wastage of child-life in Samoa aro being actively undertaken. There is a certain amount of malnutrition among the children up to three years; after that ago it is very rarely that the doctors lind a case. Most of the deaths occur during the weaning stage of the child, and more often than not are a direct result of want of knowledge on tho part of the mother. The appointment of district baby welfare nurses is proving an invaluable means of enlightenment, and this policy is being pursued as rapidly as possible. Provision for maternity cases is made at the public hospital in Apia, the Europeans and Samoans each having a ward-to themselves, A fully qualified

maternity sister is in charge. A good deal of her timo is taken up in lecturing and teaching. An ante-natal clinic was opened a few months ago, and is fulfilling a useful function. Pive lepers—tiiree young women and two men—are at present in isolation at the Apia hospital, awaiting the arrival of a boat to remove them to the Leper Station in Mokagai, l*'iji. The disease in each case is in its very early stages. Other local diseases arc occasional mild epidemics of mumps and influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis, skin and eye diseases, intestinal worms, with rare cases of typhoid fever and tetanus. The chief insect pests of Western Samoa are flies and mosquitoes. Of the latter only one species, the Stegomia pseudoscutelaris, has so far been proved a carrier of disease. This mosquito is one which is responsible for the transmission of lilaria from man to man. Modern methods of sanitation have done much to check diseases which were once regarded by tho natives as incurable. The medicai officers, nevertheless, have a long and a hard row to hoe. Tho customs of centuries and the unawareness of the Samoan are the chief obstacles, but these, no doubt;, will be overcome in time.