Inspector-General's report / South Pacific Health Service.

  • South Pacific Health Service.
Date:
[1963]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Inspector-General's report / South Pacific Health Service. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/28 (page 11)
    VI—LEPROSY 44. The Fiji Government established a Leprosarium on the island of Makogai in 1911. 45. For many years this Leprosarium also acted as a Central Leprosarium for the other participating territories. 46. However with the advent of specific therapy for leprosy in 1948 the need for centralization no longer existed so that the territories have gradually repatriated their patients and set up their own leprosy services. 47. The number of cases being treated at Makogai at the end of 1963 was 183 made up as follows:— Fijians .. .. .. . . . . .. .. 99 Indians .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56 Europeans and Part-Europeans .. .. .. .. 6 Polynesians and Others .. .. .. .. .. 22 Rotumans .. .. .. 5 Banabans .. .. .. 1 Chinese .. .. .. .. 3 Tongans .. .. .. .. 7 Samoans . .. .. .. 1 Cook Islanders .. .. .. 1 Solomon Islanders .. .. 4 183 48. The considerable reduction of the number of in-patients at Makogai demanded the reappraisal of leprosy policy. The building of a new leprosy hospital in Suva is therefore under consideration. The new hospital will provide for the treatment of infectious leprosy, the care of people incapacitated by leprosy, and will have facilities for the surgical correction of deformities and will also provide for rehabilitation of people so affected. 49. In the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, treatment is carried out at the Tetere Government Leprosarium (nursing and care here is also undertaken by the Sisters of the Society of Mary), the Melanesian Mission Leprosarium at Fauabu, Methodist Mission at Ozama, the Roman Catholic Mission at Buma, and the Seventh Day Adventist Missions at Kukudu and Kwalibisi. In the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, the Leprosarium is adjacent to the main general hospital at Bikenibeu. The Leprosarium at Apia, Western Samoa, forms an integral part of the main hospital. In the Cook Islands the colony at Aitutaki was closed down in 1960, all patients having negative smears. 50. The continuation of generous help by the New Zealand Lepers’ Trust Board is gratefully acknowledged. This help which is distributed widely in the island territories of the South and Western Pacific Islands has in certain circumstances also been extended to the provision of funds for hospitals and medical ships. 51. The Fiji Lepers’ Trust Board administers an annual allocation provided by the parent body in New Zealand. 52. The death of Sir Hugh Ragg in May, 1963, who was Chairman of the Board from June, 1956, is recorded with deep regret. 53. The present Chairman, Mr. H. Maurice Scott, C.B.E., D.F.C., is the son of Sir Henry Scott, Q.C., who was Chairman of the Fiji Board from January, 1944, to June, 1956. (The Secretary to the Board is Mr. W. E. Donovan, O.B.E., I.S.O., K.S.G., O.St.J.). 54. The death of Mr. P. J. Twomey, M.B.E., J.P., Legion of Honour, in August, 1963, who was the Secretary of the New Zealand Board is recorded with deep regret. 55. The allocation to the Fiji Trust Board during 1962 and 1963 were £5,510 12s. 6d. and £9,919 7s. 6d. respectively. Contributions to Missions and Government Leprosaria in other territories during 1963 included:— £ £ General Purposes : Fiji— Central Leprosy Hospital Makogai .. .. .. 4,000 Korovou Sub-Station .. .. .. .. .. 5,000 - 9,000 New Hebrides— Presbyterian Mission .. .. .. .. .. 4,000 Anglican Mission .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 Catholic Mission .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 British Ante-Natal Clinics .. .. .. .. 1,000 Seventh Day Adventist Mission .. .. .. .. 1,000 - 12,000 Carried forward 21,000