iI.
Peoples of Affected Atolls
1.
Peoples of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls
The medical monitoring and follow up care program of the
exposed people of Rongelap and Utirik atolls commenced after the
Bravo Shot Fallout accident of March 1,
1954.
This program has
been the responsibility of AEC, ERDA, and now the Department of
Energy.
The medical monitoring and follow up medical care program
cf the exposed residents of these two atolls and for members of
selected "comparison"
groups from the onset of the program has
been contracted to the Brookhaven National Laboratory, Associated
Universities,
Upton,
New York.
BNL now has 26 years of medical research findings and experierce in the field with the people of Rongelav and Utirik.
regarded,
therefore,
It is
as essential that any health care organization
that develops a plan for future health care of the people of the
"affected atolls" work closely with the Medical Department of the
Srookhaven National Laboratory on past and current medical
activities as well as recommendations for the future.
It is
estimated that costs to the Medical Department of Brookhaven
National Laboratory to participate in this phase of the planning
work will be in the range of $40,000 to $50,000.
The basic contract
must include reimbursement funds for the Brookhaven National
Laboratory for participation in the overall health plan contract.
The BNL medical program for the people of Rongelap and
Utirik basically has been a medical research program but this
mandate has,
of necessity,
over the years been expanded to include
care of non-radiation related diseases.
by three basic factors;
This has been occasioned
the lack in the past of adequate primary