Page 345 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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REPORT OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

(Report by Dr. R. H. B. Snow, M.B.E., Senior Medical Officer)
General Review. The time-honoured necessity for a hospital to be ready to undertake any
emergency has been amply proved this year, when so much political unrest prevailed. This
came to a head in March and November when two strikes covering several days brought
outside activities to a standstill.
The hospital and its nearby centres remained immune. Most Staff reported for duty and
the transport team of drivers, by their heroic efforts, maintained all necessary communications.
Reserve bulk foodstuffs and tinned foods were at hand and a certain daily supply of milk and
perishable items continued.
No praise is too high for the Staff, who organised the basic needs of the Hospital and took
pride in running risks in procuring many essential items, the most urgent being kerosene.
The first strike produced about twenty-five casualties including many severe bullet wounds
leading to five deaths. The second produced only one bullet wound, the remainder being
minor casualties due to buckshot.
One great difficulty was controlling the vast crowd who attended the casualties of the
March shooting incident in the markets. Sweeping into the hospital they hampered medical
aid considerably and much time was wasted in bringing them under control. On both occasions
quantities of extra beds were prepared, which fortunately were never used.
The experience of the first episode taught many valuable lessons, which were, of great use
during the second strike. Greater reserves of food were in readiness and a thousand gallons of
kerosene held in store. The transport fleet of land-rovers had been painted with red markings and
crescents on an effective cream background and had procured several extra reserve spare wheels.
On the whole, these vehicles were relatively unmolested, and transported staff and patients
continuously. A great debt is owed to the Bahrain Petroleum Company for mending over
a hundred punctures at night, caused by nails on the roads.
Medical work was extended throughout the year, despite these set-backs, and the new
buildings went steadily ahead.
His Highness, The Ruler of Bahrain, opened the new T.B. Hospital early in the year. This
provided fifty beds, which were immediately taken up. Structurally the spacious open wards,
decorated in light colours, have revolutionised the previous style of medical buildings where
the wards were more restricted and screened from light. A useful innovation was the dining
room, which is also used for classes and films, while overhead is a spacious open-air ambulatory
area.
The Hospital, together with the Chest Clinic close by, with its Laboratory and X-Ray
plant, provides a centre of treatment for the whole Island. The scheme was planned many
years ago and its fulfilment has not only justified itself, but has provided an avenue of encourage­
ment and hope to many patients who previously would have died. It is noticeable already how
few are leaving Bahrain for outside Sanatoria. The modern forms of medical and surgical
treatment are arresting the disease earlier.
Dr. Hoda, who supervises this department, has made it a wonderful success. His personal
enthusiasm has given his patients pride and built them into a community. Many outside
people and the Bahrain Petroleum Company have helped to foster this idea, and the patients
feel supported and no longer isolated.
The maternity section of sixty-eight beds of the New Women’s Hospital is nearing
completion after two years. This first phase, which comprises the four blocks of wards
and labour wing, includes the central kitchens, stores, messes, and generation plants, and also
to one side an extensive building to house sixty nurses. This project, which entails the co­
ordination of so many experts towards the final cohesion of a finished whole, calls forth the
greatest admiration and when eventually finished will set a completely new standard.
The village work has produced a great response and is especially of benefit for the women
and children, the men being away at work. Two schedules provide for two areas. One
based on the two Rifa’as, deals with Sitra, Karzakan and Tubli, while the Mobile Dispensary
has confined its efforts to nine villages on the Budeya road, and lately Dair in Muharraq.
Each place has been visited twice a week.