Losacker’s 12th book tells of seafaring adventures and medical missions

Dr. Wolfgang Losacker, a longtime Cook Islands physician, has added another book inspired by the country to his collection, titled “South Sea Sailing Adventures.”

This book tells the story of his journey to the outer islands of the Cook Islands decades ago while preventing tropical diseases from spreading in these remote areas.

Rarotonga resident Losak, originally from Germany, has been lecturing on cruise ships about the Pacific Islands for about 25 years.

This new book is his 12th^day In a series of books, he told various stories about his journeys across the Pacific.

“I took over the medical ward and the children’s ward together with Dr. Maeva. Then they sent me as a tropical medicine specialist to the outer islands, starting with the northern islands, where you had to stay for three months because there was only ship service,” Losacker explained.

“If I’m lucky, the ship will be back in three months, and I’m very happy because then I can check on everyone, complete the diagnosis of tropical diseases, and write reports like we did in Europe. The Ministry of Health sends the reports to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, and they immediately send $10,000 to the Ministry of Health and say to give it to the doctor to go to all the islands to write these reports and buy the medicines needed to complete these diseases.”

Losak said the funding would help protect the outer islands and their residents from tropical diseases.

“Some of that is in the book,” he said.

Parts and chapters of the new book tell the experiences and stories of other Cook Islanders he met during his service in the Outer Islands.

Losak said his 12 books were published in Germany in both German and English.

He said many Germans who had bought his book gave it positive reviews but were more interested in the stunning scenery of the Cook Islands.

“Everyone here (in Germany) likes to read my books because it’s good for tourism,” he said. “I’ve met people who told me they came here because they read my books and they said the island I live on must be a beautiful place.”

Losakel came to the country as a specialist in internal medicine, cardiology and tropical medicine. He joined the Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health (TMO) in January 1981.

Losakl, who in the past served as Germany’s honorary consul to the Cook Islands, has a coffee table book with photos of the Cook Islands and others from his travels across the Pacific.