The
first ever study into the incidence of cancer among Royal Australia
Navy personnel who served in Vietnam is being undertaken, the
Minister for Veterans Affairs, Mrs Danna Vale announced late last
month.
In addition the first ever examination of mortality on a ship-by-ship
basis, will be conducted.
On August 28 Mrs Vale said the Federal Government is doing a mortality
study of Australia’s Vietnam veterans as part of continuing
research efforts into the health of the Vietnam veteran community.
Mrs Vale said the study involved matching the Nominal Roll of
Vietnam Veterans against national death and cancer registries,
the electoral roll and passport records to identify the number
of deaths, causes of death and the incidence of cancer.
“This will be compared with the Australian population, as
well as national servicemen who did not serve in Vietnam, to determine
any increases in mortality or cancer rates among Vietnam veterans.
“This study will include the first cancer incidence study
on Royal Australian Navy and RAAF veterans of Vietnam and the
first to include examination of mortality on a ship-by-ship basis.
Mrs Vale said the study was the third to be conducted into rates
and causes of death among Australians who served during the Vietnam
War.
“The last study, released in 1997, recommended that further
research be undertaken after the year 2000, to ensure that Government
and policy-makers continued to closely monitor the mortality rates
of Vietnam veterans,” she said.
“The Federal Government has a strong commitment to the health
of the Vietnam veteran community, implementing a $32.3 million
package of measures to assist Vietnam veterans and their families,
including preventative action to address heart disease and alcohol
abuse, mental health programs and education assistance for children
of Vietnam veterans.
“This study will provide valuable new information about the
Vietnam veteran community to assist the Government in the implementation
of its veterans’ health programs in coming years,” Mrs
Vale said.
She said a consultative forum was guiding the study with representatives
of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, the Vietnam
Veterans’ Federation of Australia, the RSL, the Australian
Veterans and Defence Services Council and the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
“The consultative forum represents the interests of the veteran
community to ensure the study is conducted in a way that best
meets the needs of Vietnam veterans,” she said.
“An expert Scientific Advisory Committee has also been appointed
to oversee the study, chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Medical
and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Professor Peter
Smith.”
“Meeting the needs of the Vietnam veteran community is a
continuing priority for the Government and the mortality study
will assist us in providing Vietnam veterans with the care they
need and to which, they are entitled,” Mrs Vale said.
