Public health organization in four rural districts in Western Samoa.

Abstract

In the light of the modern world, the inhabitants of underdeveloped countries, of which Samoa in the strict sense of the word is one, of them, frequently in their lower level of knowledgeable resources, referred to foreign investments, or other collectivizing enterprises whether they would be beneficial to them or otherwise, - as exploitation. The reactionary impressions from primitive eyes were that they had no single redeeming feature.

No one would put his ‘capital’ either economically, socially, physically or otherwise, at risks unless there is a probability of profits in return, “and the greater the risk, the greater must be expected of the turn-over”. Not infrequently their needs of repeated assurances of good returns – often demanded that the profits be shared first before it ever commenced operations, which is exactly vice versa to the logical sense of foresight of the modern world.

These contrasting elements of the primitively fashioned world had fortunately found our people in the past, if I am allowed to mix metaphors, to have “thrown out the baby with the tub water and all,” with out even the least hesitation where “angels would even have feared to tread.”

The subject of this work followed the only “road” which our Government, after years of enthusiastic comprehensive “scaling” – only to be rendered disheartened and frustrated as to pursue the only feasible work-out, - the ‘round” about – “pat on the back”, “Flower on the ear” – persuasive, talking method. […]

Through many humiliating instances, one found that public health amongst undeveloped people cannot succeed alone, without advancing the social and general standard of living and outlooks of life, which necessitated and energetic effort to improve the peoples’ productiveness – generally in education, economically, socially and general welfare. […] [Extract from Introduction]