Page 402 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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The recuiting of staff becomes more and more difficult. Arab dressers with the right
qualities pass on to more monied business posts and few recruits will stay for many years’
training. A liny nucleus of old original staff arc left who are not being implemented annually.
To some extent this is due to less attractive salaries than elsewhere, but the kernel of the problem
still remains that the better class of people will not take up nursing as a vocation, and until
this fact is realised, the key staff will be largely foreign, which is not what it should be.
The chief higher staff changes were :—
Doctor Benerjccand Doctor Mohsin, who left in November 1951, to be replaced by
Doctor A. J. P. Crowden in March 1952.
Sister R. M. Selby Lowndes, who finished her period of service in March.
Sister F. M. Harris, who arrived also in March.
Mr. L. J. Hanvey, who was appointed as Public Health Inspector in March.
Lehrasahib Khan, who unfortunately had to relinquish his post as Anti-Malaria Supervisor
in June on account of contracting early T.B.
Miss M. Morrissey, who came in April as Assistant Matron.

Doctor Crowden took over general duties as a physician, anaesthetics and the T.B. Block.
He has done very valuable work.
Sister Harris administrates the work of the Women’s Hospital.
Mr. Hanvey took over, under Doctor Grant, anti-malarial and various municipal health
measures. His energy, hard work and long experience in the East have meant a great deal.

The retirement of Lehrasahib Khan was a great loss. He was appointed in 1939 by Major
Afridi from Delhi, who carried out the anti-malarial surveys here in 1937 and 1938, and he has
been largely responsible, by drainage schemes and general measures, for the great diminution
of malaria in the Islands, especially in the towns. His knowledge of drains and gardens came
to be unique, and at least two recruits will be needed to take his place.
Miss Morrissey’s arrival has eased the strain of the Matron’s duties. Too long Miss
Maguire has been overtaxed with an administration more arduous and varied in its duties than
most Matrons would ever be called upon to perform, and she has always responded cheerfully
to every year’s increase of work.

The hospital was busily engaged throughout the year especially in trying to apportion the
right number of admissions to the severity and importance of each malady. There is always
a waiting list and postponement of certain patients is inevitable. New combinations of treat­
ment were carried out for Malaria and Amoeviasis and acute eye infections, particularly with
Chloroquine and the anti-biotics. There is an attempt to treat anaemias more rationally,
and further experiments were carried out with more recent drugs for T.B. The type of surgery
is changing to more intricate operations, and fractures offer much scope for every type of
remedial repair.
Public Health is expanding under Doctor Grant, and the Baladiya sub-committee formed
to deal with problemscommon to both departmentshashelpedinco-ordinatingcertain approaches
to nuisances, and food and drink abuses. It is not easy work enlightening householders to be-
• come aware of health defects which affect the whole community.
Malaria was reduced to the lowest figure on record in the May-June period. The usage
of Tifa machines and insecticides is difficult to carry out consistently at an optimum level. The
present machine and trailer are too heavy for garden work, and winds with a greater velocity
than six miles an hour hamper the effect of fogging. A cheap high concentrate of D.D.T. or
Gammcxane is not easy to prepare at present. One research council in England wants our
views on this subject as it is causing much concern. Gammexane in Kerosine or Diessel or
water are all being used, and D.D.T. to a certain extent. Wet “knock down’’ spraying though
expensive and wasteful is very efficaceous. Garden channel spraying by some form of a machine
is still hoped for, and experiments with a cold spray aerostyle light machine may solve this
problem. One is on order for trial use. The old well worn methods still continue to be used.