Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 2
Realizing the difficulties imposed b;ylar,~ge barrier alrmst all patients taker,to the U.S. for treztment have been accompanied by jkmshallese atteaaants. On a’bo:lttwo occasions, for various re>sons, this did not occur. The he~lt,hof these patients, however, \:asentireljrsatisfacto~ for travel unattended and the airline hostesses were mo*t attentive to then. Every effort will be made in the futwe to have GM. patients accompanied by ?!a.mhalles attendants wiientraveling outside the Trust Terra.to~. Crea te a mechanism for better interaction between doctor and uatien’t..—— On completion of the medical examination the doctcrs have attempted to explain the findings and treatmert reco~.mendedto each person. This has sonetimes been difficult due to unavailability of interpreters at the time. Every -effort will be made to imporve this situation in the new expanded medicd program examined, there will be more medical personnel and interpreters available and there will be an opportunity for personal interviews with each person examined to discuss findinga and tdeatmerit. ‘Wewant the MC doctors to take care of all our diseases and ailments with.the sme thorou@ness as for thyroid diseases. Hhile the physicains are on the outer Islands, both at the time of the z;:nualexaminations and the qu~terly visit by the Resident Physician, every effort will be made to give eve~ patient the best treatment possible. As in the past aqy disease that develcps in an exposed person that appears to be related to radiation exposure may be taken to the U.S. for further diagnosis and tre.atnentas in the case of those with thy-mid nodules. Most patients, howsver, that require hospitalization will be treated in the Trust Terratory hospitals. The AEC Residant Physician w:lI assist the Trust Terratory medical personnel in giving the most thorough treatment possible. If the patient cannot be given the best treatment in the Trust Terrztory they will be taken to other hospitals We need some people to come to the Island.a]ldthoroughly exmlain to us what Fimt it should b,e,-said-that there has been continued assessment of the tests have been and are being made on soil.,plants, water and on perscns ~i~ng on the islands by measurement of radiation in individuals and radiation checks of urine. The results indicate that the levels of exposure are so low as not to present a serj.ousthreat to their health. In the near future an areal survey for radiation in the northern Firshalls is planned which should give better information on the outlying isknds of the atolls. It is also plaz~ed to invite several radiGlogicul scientists from the InterRatiOn& Atomic Energy Agency to carry out an independent eva.ltiationof the radiological situation on these islands at the time of Uris survey. With regard to education of the people on these islands aboct radiation and its effects it is planned that Dr. tlanhadu, .aUscientist from Indi2, will visit the islanclsof Ron~elap and Utirik for sewerd. weeks on each atoll and carfy ot]t LLneducatiol,slprogram on this subject using illustrated lectures and ciemon-
Page 3
Can we have a better cancer detec~ion t)roErm? It is surprising that.a request should M made for a better cancer detection is given the greatest emphasis. I@’ tests for cancer are carried o’~tat the time of the visits to the i~l~nds and ~lso on materi~ brought to the U.S. for study. aridexamination of blood, wine ar,dother ‘oodysecretions. Some of the best mediczl specialists in the U.S. and Japan have been envolved in thz cmcer detectioti program, either participating in the surveys or examining material ard giving advice back in the IJ.S. There is a continuous search fon neu tests to be added. It is unfor~unate that the ~eode are not aware of the extensiveness of the in on the MU. If drugs are needed for for the disr)ensarybrou~ht from AEC on Kwalalein_ the dispensary at Rongelap which cannot be furnished Kwajalein dispensary and bring them in on the LCU. jn Ffrch the examinations disrunt the whole villa~e rhythm. It is reauested that food for the ,./holeisland be f~nished for the entire time of the stay of tine It is admitted that there is s~f;cient dis~ption of the village life to affect food gathering and preparation dl~ng the e~inations to warrant sows degree ofw~~od subsidization. It is therefore agreed that a reasonable ar.ountof food~be fwnished the village for the period of the actual ex?.minations. This is ustmlly about 3 days, though the teml may be on the island