Page 416 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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SOCIAL SERVICES

PUBLIC HEALTH

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
(Male Side)

(By Dr. R. H. B. Snow, State Medical Officer.)
It is well worth considering how much good health Bahrain enjoys because of its island climate.
Brought about largely by the sun, salinety of the soil and the sea, it is surrounded with natural dis­
infectants: * The greater part is desert, sun scorched and therefore largely germ free, added to which
it oozes salt and the natural well water which is potable is also highly saline. Unfortunately the
cultivated northern sector rich with gardens has increased the humidity of that area and is less bracing.
In the centre and south the air is hotter, dryer and healthier. It is singularly fortunate in being free
from the infections of the sandfly, guinea worm, and Bilharzia. Also " stone ’’ hardly ever occurs.
These maladies arc common in the surrounding countries leaving Bahrain unscathed.
The main towns are improving in cleanliness, hence the diminution in Dysentery since 1943.
but despite increasing vigilance by the Baladiyas over offending open house drains and cesspits
Typhoid should be a common disease. The fact that it is not so can only be put down to the sun and
low rainfall. A further impetus from the Public Health and Welfare Committee has brought a
stricter standard of health observance. Public latrines are being substantially increased, and the
markets which came under censure, were taken under supervision. Certain unsavoury areas of
Manama come up for discussion and are remedied.
The question will now be raised what serious life destroying diseases do attack the Arab. The
answer broadly speaking is—r.othing acute or virulent except Pneumonia. This is a remarkable and
almost incredible fact. Acute sepsis is modified into sub-acute less dangerous forms by the immunity
of centuries to dirt, germs and flies. Septicaemia and pyaemia are virtually non-existent. Cardiac
disease is uncommon and the acute forms rare. Infectious disease is not a serious entity. Smallpox
used to be so, bui is so well under control now, that .this year is the first on record when no cases were
notified on the island. Diphtheria and Scarlet fever are not seen, and enteric is infrequent.
The one of'chie/hnport'^ t^ie^a^Sence °* acu*^ abdominal catastrophies is an amazing fact.

should h ^at tJie causes °* death in Arabs arc largely the chronic maladies. These
“be “mrfted 7'th those °‘ wcstcrn countries. England and America in 1946 show diseases
ol the heart and circulatory system as the leading cause of death with Cancer second. In England
F tory disease comes third. Bahrain shows chest conditions flrst, cardiac, chiefly senile, second,
end reiaf vely speakmg no Cancer at all. Pneumonia, Pulmonary tuberculosis and Syphilitic Aortitis
e c 10 irect causes, rhere is a series of factors such as general debility and anaemia with
lowered resistance to mtercurrent disease and old age which count for a fair proportion of death
especially in he hot weather. It should be made quite clear that Malaria does not cause death.
but contributes to the above syndrome of events in producing a morbid decline. It is a pity that
i vital statistics of total deaths and their causes on the island cannot be contemplated at present. The
above figures are relative estimates only on patients seen.

On the credit side, Bahrain stands out in a unique position of what she is saved from, being in
the East where simpler living abounds, and being an island. The insidious deteriorating diseases
weigh her down heavily on the debit side, namely, Trachoma and blindness, venereal disease and
malaria.