Page 297 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

25
PUBLIC HEALTH—1365(1946)
Statistics arc extremely dull indicators of the progress of medical work. Unfortunately they
are necessary because their value in assessing results is essentially comparative in showing trends
of improvement or decline but they will give no indication as to whether the hospitals are merely
institutions for treatment of disease, or medical homes which patients willingly enter knowing they
will be fully cared for, they will not show the increasing satisfaction of men who have made long
journeys to be treated here, or of the breaking down of suspicion and prejudice in women who now
come in such large numbers nor can they measure the enthusiasm of certain out-patients who attend
for weeks for regular treatment; or the hopes and fears involved in combating a desperate illness.
Our aim is to relieve suffering and to prevent it ever happening again. This necessitates an organised
framework of disciplined workers and experts displaying multifarious activity, and much energy is
expended in keeping this structure intact and always ready for use. It would be largely a spontaneous
process if each participant was imbued with the highest motives, but most of the subordinate staff
come for a job of work secured under the best possible terms.

However, there has been a distinct improvement in maintaining dressers and sweepers, and
the tendency not to be seen again the day after pay-day has almost disappeared. Certain Arab
dressers-in-training have stayed on from the beginning and are now after six years becoming ex­
tremely valuable, experienced, and reliable.
While the Arab as a whole is not markedly sensitive to other people’s suffering outside his own
kith and kin, yet the old idea of disease having largely come about by the inscrutable workings of
Allah for which little can be done, is dying out. There is an awareness stirring that much can be done
and very hopeful signs of this are forthcoming. The setting up of a Public Health and Welfare Com­
mittee composed of the secretaries of the Baladiyas and the heads of Education and Hospitals, is a
case in point. This body has been chosen to judge health from all standpoints and the prevention
of disease from the earliest age. Its programme includes such subjects as, maternity and infant wel­
fare, sanitation and town cleanliness, venereal disease, tuberculosis and other questions. There
is no doubt how far-reaching will be its decisions, because a cross-section of Arab life is well represented
at these meetings and the medical solution ;is far as possible is dovetailed in to meet each need.

The year 1365 was one of good health with a mild hot weather. Only one severe heat exhaus­
tion patient was seen, admitted from a ship. Smallpox, which was limited showing itself during the
first quarter and was succeeded by a small epidemic of Mumps. Malaria was not severe and the
Dysentery rate was low. Enteric was sporadic towards the end of the year.

It can be said that the general tone of health is improving, and this should be increasingly so
with the new preventative medical outlook.

BAHRAIN GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL MALE STATISTICS
1365—(1946)
Out-Patients.
New cases. Return cases. Totals.
Hospital .. 10.503 50,552 61,055
Muharraq 13,076 16,725 29,801
Dispensaries 2,630 448 3.078
Schools .. 4,420 4.420
•Police 1,687 5.226 6.913
32.3*6 72.951 1,05,267