(Ponape District)
HEADQUARTERS OF THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATOR, PONAPE DISTRICT
Lieutenant Commander W. D. Mooney, U.S. Naval Reserve, is the Civil
Administrator, Ponape District, having served in that capacity for 17
months. He has attended a seminar in civil administration.
A.
Administrative programe
(a)
Self-government.
The islands of the Ponape District that were visited
during this inspection vary in their forms of self-govern
ment, only two (Kusaie and Ngatik) having held elections,
at their own request, for their governing officials. On the
other islands the chiefs have been in the clan line of
succession, or are elected by inter-related, hereditary
families. The Field Trip Officer of the Ponape District has
found that the governing officials desire information on
principles and processes of self-government, but has abstained from any persuasive attempts at changing the present
order. There is no native regional council in the Ponape
Districte
Finances and budgets of each native community are audited
periodically by CivAd representatives. Financial accounts
are in goodorder, and budgets are being met.
(b)
Health and sanitation.
(1)
Medical services for the Ponape District are supervised
by the senior U.S. naval medical officer attached to the
CivAd Unit. On the islands inspected, native health aides
were well-trained and were respected by the people.
At the
REPRODUCED FROM HOLDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
*
time of this inspection, 28 natives were being given on-thejob training at the CivAd main dispensary on Ponape, for a
total period of 4 to 6 months, after which they will be sent
to sub-dispensaries in the District.
The general health and nutrition status of the natives
in the Ponape District is very good, except for the incidence
of tuberculosis and need for improved dental treatment.
Tuberculosis apparently is present in 4~5% of the popu-
lation of the Ponape District, although exact data must await
the medical survey being conducted in the Trust Territory by
the U.S.S. WHIDBEY. Tubercular patients presently are
isolated and given general treatment.
Construction of a small
tuberculosis sanitarium for the Ponape District is recom
mended in the vicinity of the new CivAd dispensary on Ponape.
(See page 11 of the Report.)
For recommendation on supervision of medical services,
see page 10 of the main body of the Report.
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aptldners
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