Annual report on the Medical Department / Straits Settlements.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1931]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Medical Department / Straits Settlements. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    113/148 (page 89)
    III.—Schools, Penang Settlement There are 23 vernacular boys schools in Penang island with a total enrolment of 3,191 scholars. These boys are medically examined each year by the Assistant Health Officer who records the health and sickness statistics of the scholars in Penang. In addition, he visits these schools monthly to supervise treatment of minor ailments, to give treatment for worm and yaws infections, and to deliver public health lectures. One hundred and fify such visits were made to these schools during the year and sixty lectures were delivered dealing principally with hookworm and malaria prevention, illustrated by posters and diagrams. There are eleven English schools in George Town where medical inspection is carried out by the Assistant Health Officer, Schools, who is aided in this work by the Assistant Medical Officer in charge of Chowrasta Dispensary. Public health lectures were delivered in boys English schools and cinema films on malaria and hookworm were shown on two occasions. The girl schools in Penang island number 18, four of these are English schools and 14 vernacular, with a nominal roll of 3,532. These are visited by the Eady Medical Officer attached to the Women and Children’s Outdoor Dispensary. In addition there are 12 girls’ schools in Province Wellesley and Dindings with a roll of 755 pupils ; these are also inspected annually by the Eady Medical Officer. In Province Wellesley there are 48 boys’ schools with an attendance of 6,030. The boys receive medical inspection and treatment through the Health Officer who is assisted in this work by the Assistant Medical Officers attached to the three hospitals situated in the north, south and central districts of Province Wellesley. In the Dindings, where there are 9 boys’ schools with an enrolment of 619 boys, medical inspection is done by the Deputy Medical Officer who is a part-time Health C >fficer. The following is a summary of the records obtained in school medical examination during 1931 : — SCHOOL MEDICAL DATA, 1931 Boys Girls Detail of Medical Inspection English Schools Penang Vernacular Schools Penang Vernacular Schools P. W. English Vernacular No. of schools visited ... No. of pupils examined ... No. physically subnormal No. with gross dental defect No. with defects of ear, nose & throat No. with skin infections 11 4,722 476 (10%) 2,675 (57%) 1,801 (38%) 467 (10%) 26 3,414 611 (18%) 3,000 (88%) 1,271 (37%) 865(25%) 58 5,358 702 (13%) 1,549 (29%) 2,364 (44%) 573 (n%) 5 2,34i 116 ( 5%) 1,250 (53%) 802 (34%) 234 (m%) 27 1,760 122 ( 7%) 1,237 (70%) 500 (28%) 166 ( 9%) An examination of the figures above, reveals the great number of physical defects amongst the pupils and the need for remedial and sanitary measures. There is a medical examination record card for each child attending school upon which details of the annual inspection are entered. Medical examinations in schools in rural areas are followed by visits of the Travelling Dispensary. Headmasters of urban schools are required to address a special memorandum form to the parents or guardians of any pupil who is in need of treatment, informing them of the nature of the ailment and advising treatment. There were three changes during the year in the post of Lady Medical Officer. Dr. Nora Webster was in charge from the beginning of the year until 17th July, 1931, when she resigned. Dr. Gladwell then temporarily occupied the'post until the arrival of Dr. Ethel Morris on 3rd September, 1931. In spite of these changes a full medical survey of all girl schools in the settlement was completed by the end of the year. IV.—Schools, Malacca There are, in the Settlement, about 11,947 children of school age. In Malacca, the work is done as a part-time duty by the Health Officer, Lady Medical Officer, Deputy Health Officer and two Assistant Health Officers. The Travelling Dispensary co-operates in this work in rural areas. The Health Sister sends sick children and non-vaccinated children for treatment to the Government out-door-dispensary and Travelling Dispensary. The Health Officer arranges for a Government dresser to treat the children not treated in hospital or dispensary, and have them vaccinated. Many children suffer from dental defects, they are advised to go to the dentists for treatment. There is no Government dentist. Details of school work are given in the attached statement