t
inhabited by few persons spread over a considerable region of the Pacific
Ocean), medical care for inhabitants of the outlying islands such as Rongelap and Utirix
is provided by medical aides who have a level of competence equivalent to that
of pharmacist mates or medical assistants.
The regional hosptial at Majuro
provides better care than that available on the outlying islands, but the care
at Majuro is probably below the levelicare delivered in an average hospital on the
mainland.
The Rongelap population has benefited from the excellent annual medical
surveys conducted by the Brookhaven survey team,which are to be supplemented by
midyear hematologic surveys in the future.
In providing medical care, the Trust Territory has not distinguished between
the population exposed to fallout and the unexposed residents of other Pacific
island.
However, we understand that the Trust Territory is now willing to
recognize that the exposed population is distinctive from a medical standpoint
and entitled to closer medical surveillance than unexposed populations.
The
Micronesian Senate Bill is designed primarily to improve the year-round care of
the exposed and related populationgof Rongelap and Utirik.
.
4.
A special joint committee of the Micronesian Congress was created by
Public Law No. 4C-33 early in 1972 "to insure that the people of Rongelap and
Utirik Atolls receive.
.
.the best medical treatment available and...compensation
for the injuries that they have suffered."
In February 1973, Senate 3ill No. 89
(Enclosure 3) was passed by the Micronesian Senate; it was signed into law by the
Deputy High Commissioner on April 12,
1973 as Public Law No.
5-52.
It provides
benefits in the form of regular or emergency transportation to hospitals at
Majuro or Ebeye (the latter under construction), per diem expanses, housing and
medical care to exposed persons
from Rongelap and Utirik atolls,
and control persons and an accompanying member of the family.
their offspring
The class of
illness covered by the bill is restricted by the statement that “this section
(6 in the bill) shall not be construed to allow persons the aforesaid benefits if
the ailment’ or complaint could have been treated at the person's place of residence
by the health personnel available."
The annual cost to the
government under the bill is projected at not more than $9,000 per year by
the Special Joint Committee of the Micronesian Congress.
[013698