Medical Facilities—Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Year
1948.00.00.
Hospital
|
beds
|
| (Guam) 250 |
|
1949.0
1950........... Lee ee \
1951....... Skee eae
Leprosa-
|
rium 100
beds
:
1 |
Ll:
1°:
]
1 |
i
1
Dispensa-
ries
i
,
!
7 |
*5
5
5
Subdispen-
Saries
|
Medica.
,
Ship
|
|
Survey
89|
90 |
96 |
97 |
'
“The dispensaries at Yap and Kwajalein became subdispensarics when these districts we
combined with Koror and Majurorespectively.
Considerable discussion was held during the naval period concer:
ing the establishment of a tuberculosis sanitarium for patients fro;
the entire Trust Territory. This was first suggested in July ro4é
when Saipan began construction of a 150 bed tuberculosis hospit:
The numberof cases in the Marianas filled the new hospital, howeve
and nothing further was done about makingit into a territory-wi«
sanitarium until 1950 when the High Commissioner (HiComTe
Pacls) requested comments from the Commander in Chief Pacif
Fleet (CinCPacFlt) Medical Officer and the HiComTerPacls Sta
Medical Offcer concerning such an institution.” Both disapproved d
plan. The CinCPacFlt Medical Officer objected to the addition:
facilities and personnel that would be necessary, the increased proble:
of transportation, and the transfer of patients from their homes to
different cultural environment.” The HiComTerPacls Staff Medic:
Officer opposed the plan because the location would not be centra
the cost of operating and maintaining a sanitarium on Saipan woul
be excessive because of the comparatively high cost of living on tha
island and, especially, those afflicted with the disease needed rest—
“physical rest, mental rest, emotional rest’—which could be mor
readily provided if the people were kept within their homedistrict:
He added: “It is difficult, if not impossible, to actually establish th:
fact, but my opinion, after many contacts with patients and people
from outlying districts is that they are not happy and emotionally a
rest in the MarianaIslands, including Guam.”’
*Encl (A) to DepHiComTerPacls Itr ser 1022 dtd 13 Jul 48.
* HiComTerPacls msg of 6 ful 50.
" CinCPacFlt Med Off memo dtd a0 Jun 50.
* FieldTerPacls Itr ser 576 dtd 6 Jul 50.
886
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