Page 317 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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IV.—Sitra
Work commenced here in September, 1040. The main six villages have been examined and
treated where necessary. The most necessary work is in the gardens, particularly round Muhazza,
and in the open land of Sul'ala where numerous small drains arc blocked, disused, or badly
constructed.
'.tiling, fishing, filling in of certain pits and ponds, and small drainage work are the chief
necessities. A Squad of 2 Jemadars and 12 Coolies is employed.
V.—Sakiiir, Badaya.and Jehzirat Nassan
Routine anti-malarial measures have been carried out here from lime to time when urgent
necessity arose.
The 1941 programme will be based on the following lines: —
1. Perseverance of the existing routine work.
2. More propaganda, especially through the radio.
3. Extension of oiling, fishing and garden supervision work up to the Manama—Bapco road
bridge (Kawari).
4. An adequate water system in Manama to eradicate any necessity for shallow wells.
5. Special I Ictus—
(1) Continuation to completion of the existing work on the Qusaibin land and Wireless
pool.
(j) Final control of the complete date palm area of the north of the island beginning in
i<)4i (No. 3) and extending over to 1042 and perhaps HJ43.
The Anti-Malaria Department
Three Indian experts, working with Bahrain Jemadars and coolies, have accomplished a great
deal since their arrival in November, 1 <j3<;. -Manama environments, Hadava, Jchzira Nasan,
Muharraq island, and Silra have been the order of sequence of their activities. Notes on this
year’s work and the proposed K141 (1360) programme are given, and the chief anti-malaria
measures adopted -with their varying success can be understood.
The Indian stall’ are young, energetic, and good organisers. The Supervisor is experienced,
particularly in small drainage schemes, and is diplomatic with the garden owners. Much has been
done, but much remains. Results are speaking for themselves after eighteen months of work,
and most people are now realising their value. Whereas before there have been difficulties over
gaining admission to certain houses and gardens for necessary work, now the coolies gangs are
vdry often invited to enter. To have effected this is half the battle, and it is hoped that malaria
will be well under control in the whole island after another two years.
Conclusion
As has been said at the beginning, the Hospital as a complete unit is coming into being.
Only the administration block, containing the operating theatres, laboratory, X-Ray department,
and offices, remains, which should be completed next year. The Hospital with its. essential
departments will then be the mainspring of all medical work, whether in Manama 'or in the
district. Hflicicnl transport and stall will conned all outlying areas with the centre. This is
already slowly being achieved.
The whole work depends on the stall’, on their interest, reliability, resourcefulness, and
efficiency. Many new men have been enlisted this year, including eight Indian fully trained
nurses, three of whom have arrived. Persians, and a few Arabs from the mainland have also
been enrolled, but it is the Arab of Bahrain who is being used in large numbers—many of them
for dressers-in-training, ward orderlies, and sweepers. The greater bulk of the work will always
fall on them and so much of it is important. Out of a total stall* of sixty-two, thirty-seven are
Bahrain subjects, and Miss Harbottle, the Matron, has been endeavouring to mould this local
material into a routine to which most of them are quite unused. The fair success she has had
is entirely due to her perseverance, supervision and discipline.
'file local Arab will become the backbone of the department, and this difficult up-hill task,
it is hoped, will reap its reward after some years. At present, the Matron has the dillicull task
of dove-tailing them in to subordinate positions most suitable for them. The Isolation Hospital
of H beds is an all-Arab department, and will serve this coming year as an experiment to show
’whether a high standard of efficiency can be maintained there.
H. H. Sheikh Sir Hamad bin Fasti Al-Khalifah paid one unofficial visit to the male block,
shortly after its completion, and is always showing great interest in the work. Next autumn
should see the opening ceremony of the Administrative Block performed by him, when he will
then formally declare the whole Hospital as open.