Stock Photo - 1954 - Jungle girls trained as midwives in hospital success with first two will mean 100 a year scheme to reduce infant mortality in jungle longhouses: Dr. Glyn Evans of Cardiff, Director of Medical Services for Sarawak, is pleased with the success of his scheme to train Sarawak tribal girls as midwives in an attempt to reduce the infant mortality which occurs in the primitive community longhouses in which the tribes live in the jungle. First two girls training at Kuching General Hospital are from the Kayan tribe of the Rajang and Baram River area. They are Ba'un, 18, and Asong, 17 both daughters of Kayan headmen. With the kindness of British nurses, these two girls soon became their native shyness and have already become proficient soon they will return to the jungle to help their ----. Dr. Evans insists the girls are not 'de-tribalised' and must not have their ears sewn up. This means they retain their heavy tribal rings of copper which hang from the lobes, causing them to distend to their shoulders, a mark of beauty in the tribe. As the scheme shows signs of success, the government will recruit more women from other tribes. They will be selected by District officers and be between 15 and 50 years of age, and be recommended by the Headman. Training takes a year to 18 months. Before passing out a girl must handle at least 20 deliveries, and understand every aspect of health from conception to weaning. It is hoped 100 girls will be trained in a year. Each will receive a full medical kit before leaving and receive aplenishment supplies as needed. Big job for the first trainees is caring for Sarawak quads born just after the New Year. Photo shows Tribal hatreds are forgotten these days, specially in the maternity wards of Kuching General Hospital headman's daughter, Ba'un 18, feeds one of the Sarswak born to a mother of the Sea Dyaks, a tribe which until recently was to sworn enemy of Ba'un's Kayan tribe. (Credit Image: © Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com)