Page 418 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT FOR 1371

(Report by Dr. J. D. Grant)
Introduction.—The year under review witnessed the inauguration of a Public Health
Service in Bahrain. This organization took over the existing Quarantine and Anti-Malarial
work and made a start on tackling the vast problem of general Hygiene and Sanitation in the
Islands. In due course, it is hoped to extend activities to other spheres of Public Health work.
The service was housed in the new Public Health buildings on Awal Road and took up occupa­
tion there in the month of June.
Staff.—Dr. J. D. Grant relinquished the appointment of Quarantine Medical Officer and
became the Medical Officer of Health, Designate, with which he combined the duties of Port
Health Officer. He was on leave from 5th July to 13th October and during his absence, his
duties were largely carried out by the Chief Quarantine Medical Officer, Persian Gulf.

Mr. L. J. Hanvey took up the appointment of Public Health Inspector in March.

The Anti-Malarial and Quarantine staffs were taken over en bloc and incorporated in the
new service.

Recruitment of labour presented a problem towards the end of the year owing to the more
attractive rates of pay offered elsewhere on the Islands and on the mainland.

General Hygiene and Sanitation.—Many visitors to Bahrain comment favourably on the
general tidiness of the Island. This remark is true in respect of the main thoroughfares and
new buildings where much has been done in recent years to improve the general standard of
sanitation. It does not apply, however, to such an extent in regard to the sanitary conditions
of the dwelling houses of the back streets and by-ways and is not applicable in any sense to rural
areas where the most elementary principles of Hygiene have not yet penetrated.

The system of conservancy, in general use, in the towns is a crude arrangement whereby
soil pipes empty into a form of cesspit. These pipes often become fouled, the pits in many cases
are not properly maintained and are only emptied when they become sufficiently obnoxious,
but their chief danger lies in the risk of contamination of sub-soil water and shallow wells.
The better class buildings have installed septic tanks and this arrangement combined with a
piped drainage system which would also deal with the disposal of sullage water, would appear
to be the most suitable for urban areas. However, when cesspits are used, they should be
properly constructed, impervious and regularly emptied and cleaned. With a view to assisting
in this latter operation, a modern Gully Emptier has been placed on order by the Manama
Municipality. The question of conservancy and sanitation in general in rural areas will have
to be approached in due course.

The sanitary state of the present Meat, Fish and Vegetable markets and especially those at
Muharraq, is such that their condemnation and reconstruction on the lines of the new markets
being built at Quadabiya, is most desirable.

The standard of cleanliness in Eating Houses, Restaurants, Coffee Shops and Aerated
Water factories leaves much to be desired and constant supervision and effort will be required
to bring these establishments up to standard. Municipal sanitary bye-laws have been passed
and it is hoped that their steady implementation will have far-reaching results in dealing with
this and other menaces to health.

The Tifa machines were operated with much success in keeping the fly menace under
reasonable control. All areas of Manama and Muharraq including Schools and houses were
fogged with insecticide on a fortnightly schedule. The refuse disposal area was wet sprayed
three times a week and breeding there was negligible. In addition, fogging had considerable
success m overcoming an infestation of grain weevils in the Government Rice Godowns.
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