§ 29. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in respect of medical and hospital services in Borneo; and how many have been accepted as suitable for medical and nursing training during the past three years.
§ Mr. HopkinsonSince the war, in the territories of Sarawak, Brunei, and North Borneo there have been established or re-opened 16 hospitals with some 1,500 beds, 20 travelling dispensaries plying on water ways in power craft, and upwards of 60 local dispensaries. Local candidates trained during the past three years or now in training include: four seeking medical and dental qualifications at University of Malaya, and 43 nurses and 101 dressers and hosiptal assistants, at local institutions.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes any medical or hospital plan exist, or is one visualised in the next few years to meet the very great need there?
§ Mr. HopkinsonWe have not done too badly since the war. So far as the actual damage which took place in the war is concerned, we hope to make that up very shortly, and we shall then be able to get on with further developments. Although we have not the figures for vital statistics in toto, indications from the figures available point to a considerable improvement in the health of the local population.