must be considered in light of the new Marshall Tslands Health Care System.
This system is just being developed under contract with a Seventh Day Adventist
Health Maintenance Organization.
I understand that President Kabua has just
submitted a letter to the Burton and Yates Committee requesting $250,000 for
the funding of this effort.
T understand from the Seventh Day Adventist
group that tentative plans have been made to staff Majuro Hospital with an
internist, a surgeon and a general practitioner.
Information from the DOI
indicates that the construction of the new hospital at Majuro will probably
be deferred for at least 2 years.
continue to be marginal, at least
Consequently, the medical facilities will
for this period of time,
and probably for
an additional 2 years both at Majuro and Ebeye.
The series of options might begin with an on-site coordinated support
program utilizing the Public Health Service Health Professionals working in
conjunction with the Seventh Day Adventist HMO.
This option,
however,
would
not address the primary health care problems of the Marshall Islands which are:
(1)
communications,
(2)
transportation.
These problems can be solved with
the proper application of existing technologic resources.
Islands Government at
the present
both of these areas.
We understand they are in the process of putting
STOL (short take off and landing)
time
The Marshall
is making a concerted effort to upgrade
strips on most of the atolls and have purchased
two STOL aircraft.
The dispensary facilities at the outer island atolls certainly must be
upgraded and the communication facilities strengthened.
There must be as
a minimum, reliable voice communication and the facility for air evacuation.
Telecommunications via satellite between CDC Atlanta and Micronesia are
already functional.
This technology could be expanded to be used between the
major health care facilities on Majuro and the outer atolls.
The ability to
utilize daily video communications with medical experts at the Majuro Hospital
9000546
5.