Page 262 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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Passenger carrying aircraft, ships, launches and dhows arriving during the year were:—
Aircraft Ships Launches and Dhows
3,673 .. 1,677 .. 1,813

Number of ships granted Deratization Exemption Certificates:—50
Attendance at Port Health Dispensaries:—1,790.
During the year 65 cases of heat exhaustion were seen among ships crews, 21 required
hospitalization but all recovered. The relatively mild hot weather was responsible for the fewer
cases as compared with previous years. Facilities on board ships for the prevention of con­
ditions due to heat arc still inadequate and once again this matter was taken up officially. It was
necessary to detain one ship in Bahrain until better arrangements had been provided on board
in regard to cold drinking water, medicines and salt tablets, refrigeration, ventilation, and air
conditioning.

The Mecca Pilgrimage, 1374 Hegira. It was estimated that 3,426 pilgrims passed through
Bahrain, chiefly by air, all were in good health and in possession of valid certificates of vaccina­
tion against small pox and cholera. Medical facilities were provided by the Government
Hospital. In addition 1,728 local pilgrims left Bahrain, 1,450 by sea and 278 by air.

School Medical Service (Boys). The original role of the Medical Service was the discern­
ment of disease but more work of a curative nature is being undertaken and this task is proving
too much for one medical officer. The proposal to recruit another doctor and to build a
Central School Clinic in Manama is under consideration. In most schools the lack of a medical
inspection room is a great handicap to the doctor and this accommodation should be a feature
of all new school buildings. Due to lack of transport facilities and apathy on the part of parents,
the work of referring students to hospitals for further investigation and treatment suffered, and
it was only possible to have 36 eye cases attended to.

On the whole, sanitary and hygienic conditions have improved and the students are cleaner
and healthier than last year. The range and quantity of medical treatment carried out is shown
by the following list seen on an average round of all schools:—
Trachoma .. .. 354 Malnutrition 16
Boils and Cut Injuries 204 Tonsillitis .. 7
Otalgia .. 107 Bronchitis .. 5
Ringworm Scalp .. 74 Constipation 4
Conjunctivitis .. 70 Headaches .. 3
Influenza .. .. 67 Dysentery .. 2
Gastritis .. 60 Worms .. 2

Medical examination of the 1,382 new students revealed the following conditions:—
Trachoma .. .. 937 Enlarged Tonsils 29
Anaemia .. .. 370 Bad Teeth .. .28
Ringworm Scalp .. 87 Corneal opacities 18
Conjunctivitis .. 73 Defective vision 12
Enlarged Spleen .. 45 Other Eye Diseases 5
Squint .. 31 Ottitis Media 2

Anti-Malaria Measures. Control work was continued on the same lines as in previous
years, viz., residual spraying, larvicidal measures, tifia fogging and the prevention of breeding
places whenever possible. These measures proved very successful as is shown by the following
figures in respect of the number of cases of Malaria occurring among the 7,000—8,000 employees
of the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited over the past 3 years:—
Number of cases Percentage
1953 175 2.77
1954 197 3.08
1955 114 1.78

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