Vale Professor John Biddulph

Professor John Biddulph, who devoted 30 years to improving child health in Papua New Guinea, died on January 6 after losing the battle against leukaemia. He was 62 years old.

A graduate of the University of Sydney, Professor Biddulph first went to PNG as a medical student in 1954. He returned in 1961 and went on to establish the country's training programs for health officers and nurses.

Professor Biddulph was appointed foundation professor of child health at the University of Papua New Guinea and helped develop national health plans as adviser to the PNG Health Minister.

Concerned that bottle-fed babies died of starvation from dilute milk mixture and infection, he was responsible for laws which encouraged breast-feeding and restricted the sale of bottles, teats and dummies.

Noted for his meticulous research into child health problems in PNG, he was a World Health Organisation adviser and president of the PNG Medical Association.
An OBE in 1983 recognised Professor Biddulph's efforts in PNG and Third World countries.

After retiring emeritus professor from the University of PNG in 1990, he was appointed Honorary Professor of Child Health and Tropical Health at the University of Queensland, where he taught in the school of medicine.