Page 108 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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DIVING INDUSTRY
The results of the diving season were much the same as last year. Only 11 vessels went
from Bahrain to the pearl banks manned by about 500 men. Their sales amounted to
Rs. 3,78,000 and the average earnings of a diver was Rs. 703, and of a puller, Rs. 481. Advances
before and during the season were Rs. 300 for divers and Rs. 250 for pullers.
Prices of pearls, in spite of the fact that there is now a definite shortage of pearls in the
European market, were the same as during the previous season.

A number of people arc now interested in the possibility of using mechanical methods,
owing to the fact that it is extremely difficult in these times to obtain any divers. It has
been suggested that divers should be equipped with under-water breathing apparatus which is
now being greatly used by Europeans in Saudi Arabia for under-water fishing.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
SUMMARY OF THE PERIOD
SEPTEMBER 1953 TO THE END OF 1954
(Report by Dr. R. H. B. Snow, M.B.E., Senior Medical Officer)

The main feature of progress has been over buildings and staff.
(1) The T.B. scheme is well in hand and the Chest Clinic was completed by December
1954. The Hospital for 50 T.B. patients is half built, and will be ready for use about July
next year. To tide over the urgent open infectious cases, a 16-bed annexe was added to the old
Men’s Isolation Hospital in June 1954, and filled immediately. This stop-gap measure together
with the Sanatorium, just about dealt with the serious eases. At present therefore, 40 men and
10 women are being accommodated. By July next year 75 men and 30 women will be able
to be treated, and the hospital can be expanded later very easily, if necessary. Meanwhile,
the Miraj patients have continued to do well. As over 30 are committed for treatment there
for a period of one to three years, the Government could not finance any further patients.
The general world trend of treating T.B. is to abandon the Sanatorium idea, keeping patients in
hospitals or at home with greater freedom of exercise and normal life. Certainly the Bahrain
patients under supervision here are showing better results than formerly and are willing to stay
for long periods under control.
(2) The Women’s New Hospital of 210 beds, after four years of planning and discussion
was begun in November 1954. Its situation is quiet and secluded, and the buildings are such
that no alteration or addition is to be entertained. The Maternity Section, called Phase 1,
will be completed about September 1956, and the main hospital early in 1959. The arrange­
ment of the blocks grouped behind and to each side of a wide frontage with internal quadrangles
and gardens will give a very pleasing effect when finished and one of spaciousness, as it is
spread over an area twice as large as the present hospitals.

(3) Great attention is being given to village work and district visiting. The Bahrain Oil
Company kindly suggested presenting the hospital with an expensively equipped Mobile
Dispensary for aiding this work which was put into action late in 1954, and is proving a great
attraction to villagers. It carries out visits twice a day, seeing each village area twice a wee
under a rota system of four doctors.

(4) Staff recruiting has been increased considerably, not only to deal with the^above nw
measures, but to build up permanent key supervisors for the future. It can
despite careful choosing from the hundreds of applicants a year, few prove themselves worthy of
the tasks they are called to take up. Despite the fact that they are all qualified, it takes at eas
two years further training here to make them proficient and of real value. Patience an
guidance are needed continually, and greater supervision each year.

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