radiation exposure,
since a cause~effect relationship is impossible to establish
definitely for any given case.
C.
The people are intellectually and emotionally unable to deal with
the concept of "probability™ without an intensive, highly-sophisticated educational program designed not only to transfer the information intellectually regarding the role of radiation in their iives, but to concomittantly incorporate
that new understanding into their behavior, i.e., the ability to place radiation
in its proper perspective for the present and the future.
Such a program has al-
ready been initiated by Jan Naidu, Ph.D., BNL, with promising results.
* (Please see "Health Education" Addendum II) *
2.
The Marshall Islands medical "system" under the Trust Territories is
under financed.
The professional staff is undertrained and overloaded.
Critical
supplies are usually not available.
A.
In the absence of a satisfactory primary care referral base,
the
BNL Medical Program has expanded its mandate to include such things as a
“diabetic study" (which has revealed a high incidence of “maturity onset
diabetes") but has set up no mechanism for treatment and follow-up of this
disease.
.
B.
In addition, at the request of the people, a large number of
Marshallese who were not in the exposed or comparison groups have gone through the
screening examination with the detection of a variety of pathologic conditions.
An attempt has been made in each case to provide immediate treatment if
possible, and to refer the patients to the Trust Territories health care system.
Unfortunately,
little has been done to treat and to follow-up these patients.