FIJIANS FACE TWO EVILS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1947, Page 4

FIJIANS FACE TWO EVILS

HIGH INFANT MORTALITY — T.B. RAMPANT "The first impact of European contact was a decline in the population of Fiji," said Rev. S. G, Andrews, M.A., headmaster of the Methpdist Mission School, Fi|i, speaking at the Levin Rotary Club's weekly luncheon yesterday, "In 1900 it reached its lowest, but sinee then it has been on the increase. In the nine years since I went to Fiji some 18,000 have been added and today there are 115,000 Fijians. Nevertheless, all is not well. Tuberculosis is rampant and the infant mortality rate is far too high." Mr. Andrews said the poor housing conditions, social customs and methods of public and personal hygiene all contributed to the high incidence of tuberculosis. Nobody cguid tel.l the exact extent of this dread disease as no survey had been made. The Government had set up a hospital and was making an attack on it, but as yet it was still feeling its way. "There are a number of reasons for the excessive infant mortality rate," continued Mr. Andrews. "Fijian parents are inclined to be a little happy-go-lucky, and social observances of ten take precedence over the discharge of parental duties. The drinking of 'kava,' the natjve drink, by the womenfplk is on the increase, and is associated with an increase in dirt, disease and irresponsibility. But the major reason is the deficiency in the supply of sqpplementary food for jnfants, so that today children are too often wea'ned and placed on a solid diet im.mediately, with disastrous resijlts. The Government supply of such foodstuffs is gradually meeting this problem, but there is a long way to go yet."