Page 104 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

8
ANNUAL REPORT

BAHRAIN GOVERNMENT PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
1368 (1949)

{Report by Dr. K. II. B. Snow, State Medical Oflicer.)
The Year’s Health
Good progress has been made in many directions with the advent of partly controlled Venereal
Disease, the erection of a T.B. block, and the building of four private wards specially adapted for the needs
of the Arab. The weather was not severe in winter or summer and a high standard of health was
maintained. Malaria was still further diminished, and Pneumonia was not so virulent. The in-patient
figures were the highest known, resulting in increasing surgery with great benefit particularly to those
from outside Bahrain who come in increasing numbers year by year. A Smallpox epidemic broke out in
December which proved difficult to eradicate quickly, despite mass vaccinations. Typhoid was a little
more prominent though not prevalent, and Dysentery showed a higher incidence than usual especially
the bacillary from.
Improved drains and roads in Manama with the erection of more public lavatories and wash-houses
have brought benefit to the town, and piped water to the houses from the new town supply lias helped
to eliminate malaria.
Except for the Smallpox epidemic, there arc signs of encouragement that public health work is
going forward.
The Staff
Miss Allsop left to be married in March, and Miss R. M. Selby-Lowndes arrived in September
as a new Nursing Sister in charge of Out-patients and all outside clinics and dispensaries on the women’s
side. She will prove exceptionally valuable over cohesing and consolidating that type of work.
Epidemics
Smallpox broke out suddenly in December which was rumoured as brought in from Saudi Arabia.
The infected area, namely Bora in Manama, was vaccinated by organised parties from house to house.
Other large areas, schools, and special departments were also done. Working in with the Quarantine
department, a special vaccinator was loaned for a short time for daily vaccinations of all incoming people
from ships and dhows at Manama which helped as an effective brake against further infection.
The Quarantine Staff were also tightening their regulations which will prove a valuable future
safeguard. Lt. Colonel W. J. Moody, the Chief Quarantine Medical Officer of the Persian Gulf, clarified
the position regarding internal and external contagion, on the strength of which the Bahrain Government
took over complete charge of the Quarantine Island and this will be brought more up-to-date. Total
vaccinations done were 17,868, which together with those of the Lady Medical Officer’s department
totalling 22,049, is the highest number recorded in one year. Despite this, Smallpox dwindled on
sporadically for most of the year and though not serious, is nevertheless a potential minor menace, 86
patients were quarantined. Typhoid was sporadic in larger numbers as more people arc willing to have
, it recognised. Chloromycetin used for the first time in the Island, has proved as it is claimed, to be an
outstanding success which will rank with 693 and Penicillin.

Malaria
This is still declining in Manama. Control is divided into four sectors, Manama town, Manama
Gardens, an outside area up to Suk-ul-Khamis, and a second outside area up to the limit of the palm belt.
Figures arc interesting. The town shows little breeding now, and what is found arc mainly the non-
malarial culicinc forms. The boats from Persia and elsewhere by the pier show mainly culex and some
anopheles. The Manama gardens, still a menace, show fair breeding with culex to anopheles in the
proportion of three to one. T he first outside area shows extensive breeding in the relation of two to one,
and the second area the most virulent of all, the anopheles tend to approximate to the culicinc in numbers.
More thorough work in the gardens is therefore still needed.