Page 403 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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Finally a brief account of the third annual medical congress must be given.
This in reality is the annual session of the Persian Gulf Medical Society which was officially
put on this footing at the end of the Congress.
It was held this year in Bahrain, and organised by the Bahrain Medical Society, with Doctor
Snow as Chairman and Doctor Moody as Honorary Secretary.

His Highness the Ruler of Bahrain presided at the formal opening, in the Bab cl Bahrain,
and His Excellency the Political Resident Persian Gulf, Sir Charles Belgravc, the Adviser to the
Bahrain Government and His Britannic Majesty’s Political Agent very kindly attended this
ceremony.

His Highness made the following speech :—
“It gives us very great pleasure to welcome to our country to-day the doctors
who have come from all the neighbouring countries to attend this medical conference.
This is the second time that a conference of such importance has taken place here and
we look forward to more meetings of this kind being held in Bahrain in the future.
“We and our government regard the health of our people as a matter of vital
importance and a large proportion of our revenue is spent every year upon medical
work. We hope that you will visit our hospitals and clinics, but many of the results
of the work which has been carried out are not to be seen in the hospital, but can be
seen among our people, in the streets and bazaars and in the schools. One of the most
important works that we have dealt with is the eradication of malaria. A few years
ago it was impossible to sleep in Manama without a mosquito net, now Manama and
much of the neighbouring country is free from mosquitoes and the incidence of malaria
has decreased very greatly. More recently we have taken measures, which have been
very effective, to reduce the flies which are such a source of disease. The work of our
doctors in hospital and clinics and the anti-malaria work, the quarantine work, and
what we teach to the children in our schools about hygiene have all contributed to
improve the health of the Arabs of Bahrain. Where there is health, there is happiness,
and we believe that by looking after the health of our people we succeed in keeping
them happy.
“In medical and public health matters co-operation is essential and we hope that
this meeting will result in future co-operation between all of you who are working in
this part of the world with the object of alleviating suffering.
“We are happy to welcome you to Bahrain, we hope that your meeting will be
valuable and we pray to Allah for the future success of your work among the people
of these countries.”

The clinical programme then proceeded, and is best shown in note form :—
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER I4th, 1951

9.15 “Unusual Midwifery”—Dr. I. M. A. Doeg, Bahrain Government Hospital.
10.00 “Various Forms of Iridectomy”—Dr. R. H. B. Snow, Bahrain Government Hospital.
10.30 Demonstrations and Interval.
11.00 “Intramedullary Treatment of Fractures”—Dr. H. Lohnaas, Arabian American Oil
Company.
12.00 Visit to the Bahrain Government Hospital.
12.30 Lunch as guests of the Bahrain Government at P.C.L. Rest House, Jufair Road.
2.30 “Trichiasis”—Dr. H. W. Storm, American Mission Hospital.
3.30 “The National Health Scheme”—Dr. C. A. Bozman, British Middle East Office,
Cairo. Tea at the American Mission Hospital.
7.0 Dinner at Rafaa Palace as guests of His Highness the Ruler of Bahrain.