SCOURGES OF THE ISLANDS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1933, Page 8

SCOURGES OF THE ISLANDS

SCIENCE TO THE RESCUE. ACTIVITIES AT RAROTONGA. (Press Association’s Special.) Rarotonga, April 27. A great national work has to be done in fighting disease in the Islands. Sickness is an ever-present problem, and the aid of science and organised humanitarian effort has been enlisted. There is work for a small army of medical men, but it is being carried on, with courage and hope, by a mere group, of heroic workers. One of the greatest gifts to the native population is the provision of medical services. The extension of these is very necessary, both in personnel and equipment. The axe is being applied to State services in the Islands, as elsewhere, but the woodman would confer untold blessings on. thousands if the tree of medical treatment and research were not only spared but encouraged to flourish. , The fight against hookworm and round worm in Rarotonga has extended over a period of years. A scheme was initiated by the late Sir Maui Pomare, who enlisted the help of the Rockefeller Foundation. Dr. Lambert, South Seas representative of the Foundation, made a rapid, survey of the Islands in 1926, and estimated that about 90 per cent, of the natives were affected. Dr. E. P. Ellison shortly afterwards commenced a campaign against the disease, and ascertained that there was one fallacy in the treatment. This was that the sanitary conveniences were not fly-proof. This aspect was taken up, and throughout Rarotonga the native people have been persuaded to act with vigour for their own preservation. From 800 to 900 privies have been built with depths varying from 12ft to 24ft, and it is estimated that practically every household and meeting place in Rarotonga Island has been so This is an important and essential preliminary to the efforts to treat the diseases of hookworm and round worm. The specific for hookworm is carbon tetrachloride and for round worm oil of chenopodium. Mr. Cowley is in charge of the construction work, representing both the New Zealand Government and thes Rockefeller Foundation. The campaign was originally intended to extend over five years, but it has been reduced to three years. The Rockefeller Foundation contributed the maximum amount for the first year, and will decrease its grants in successive years, until New Zealand ultimately takes over the whole responsibility. Dr. Ellison considers that the people have responded splendidly in view of the considerable physical labour involved in carrying out the scheme. Dr. Ellison stated that two other diseases were the cause of considerable trouble in the Islands. These were tuberculosis and filariasis. The former was being fought by education in hygiene, accompanied by remedial measures. Filariasis presented a very difficult problem. It was hard to ascertain the incidence of the disease, but very few natives were free from micro-filaria, though in many cases there was no serious manifestation. An attempt would be made to stamp out the mosquito, the carrier of this disease.

Infantile mortality is still heavy in the Islands. The rate, however,_ haa been reduced by enlisting the aid of women’s committees, who worked on the lines of Piunket societies. The practices of the tohungas were combated, and many of the were giving their moral and active support to the elimination of such influences in connection with Lsland obstetrics. The Rarotongans call themselves Maoris, claiming kinship with the New Zealand Maoris. One of the first canoes, “Takitumu,” certainly came from Rarotonga, and to this day there is a district of that name in the island. This distinction is carefully preserved and honoured in Rarotonga.