Page 27 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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PUBLIC HEALTH.

Men’s Hospital.

[By Dr. R. H. B. Snow—Slate Medical Officer.)

Once, two years ago. His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifah visited the new Men’s
In-patient Block. It was hoped then that only another twelve months would elapse before he would
be asked to declare the whole hospital open. Some delay occurred over the completion of the last
building, the Administration Block. Nearly two years passed. Two months before its completion
His Highness Shaikh Hamad, the Ruler of Bahrain, died. Great bereavement throughout the island
was caused by his death, and especially in the hospital where the influence of his friendly interest
was always felt. To those who knew him intimately he has been a real loss as a friend, and he will
long be remembered for his kindness and simplicity.

During that same month of Safar (February) the beginnings of a chain of events were being
forged connecting the hospital with the war. At the very time of his death, a scheme was propounded
by the Bahrain Government with the Royal Air Force whereby in-patient and out-patient treatment
would be provided as far as the hospital would allow. Air Headquarters, Iraq, agreed and approxi­
mately 50 beds were promised by the Government and the American Mission Hospitals.

Events moved rapidly. The Japanese menace was near enough to make it likely that large
Defence Units, especially the R.A.F., would shortly be arriving. The remainder of the existing work
was pushed forward and completed on May r, 1942 (Rabi-al-Thany 1361). Further buildings were
embarked on—a new house for the Assistant Matron, and accommodation for the R.A.F.,—a ward
of 12 beds, kitchen and ancillary rooms. By June, a similar agreement on a smaller scale was made
with the Navy, and a few special patients were admitted from that month onwards. July saw the
European kitchen installed and one ward was opened for R.A.F. and Navy personnel. Non-European
Army, Navy and R.A.F. patients were also being taken into the hospital. On October r, 1942 (20th
Ramadhan 1361) all wards were ready and open for use. One was new, facing the sea on the first
floor and the expenses of building were met by Air Headquarters. A few refinements await to be
done, and a mortuary will shortly be constructed. Finally the R.A.F. generously conceded still
further to our requests by allowing four European Nursing Sisters to come and run the two wards,
thereby relieving the already overworked Matron of some very exacting responsibility. They arrived
in December. An R.A.F. Medical Officer was also sent to assist medically and has proved to be
invaluable.

Looking back and reviewing the dovetailing of these events from such small beginnings into
an organisation which is running satisfactorily as a routine thing, it is with a certain wonder that
so much has been done without hindering the main work among the people of the country for which
the hospital is primarily intended. We are greatly indebted to the guidance and ready co-operation
of the R.A.F. in so quickly realising the potential value of the hospital which was fortunately just
completed to take on this war work. Eventually all Services were embraced in this scheme and
admissions were regulated in proportion to the various units. By the end of the year a maximum
of twenty were taken in at one time and about 120 patients had passed through our hands.

Turning to the other side of this year's work, the chief events of note have been installing a
permanent school doctor from Muharram (January) and the opening of the X-ray department.
The arrival in April of Miss I. Rodrigues as Assistant Matron and Theatre Sister and two months
later the new Lady Medical Officer, Dr. I. M. A. Doeg. The opening of the Administration Block
released two valuable operating theatres for use. We were fortunate in obtaining the services of
Dr. Doeg and Miss Rodrigues during war time. Both have had a good deal of experience and the