Annual medical and sanitary report / Falkland Islands.

  • Falkland Islands. Senior Medical Officer's Office.
Date:
[1934]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Annual medical and sanitary report / Falkland Islands. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (b) Epidemic diseases. A small outbreak of Scarlet Fever occurred at Hill Cove in the West Falklands, three cases in all. The station was put in quarantine for six weeks. Small Pox and Vaccination. Vaccination is compulsory under the Vaccination Ord¬ inance of 1868. The majority of children born in Stanley are vaccinated before they are a year old. The camp Medical Officers also vaccinate as many children as possible under existing circumstances. (c) Water borne diseases. An enteritis occurred in the West Falklands, probably water borne. (d) Tuberculosis. 17 cases were notified during the year. There were no deaths from Tuberculosis in the Camp. No further sanitary measures with regard to housing etc. are required in combating this disease. Members of known tuberculous families continue to marry, and no doubt, the disease will be handed on from generation to generation, as heretofore. (e) Helminthic diseases. None are present, with the single exception of oxyuris vermicularis which is always with the people of the Islands, and has a wide distribution. Various drugs, in various combinations, have been tried with but doubtful success. (f) Venereal diseases. So far the Islanders continue free from these scourges. All ships arriving at the port are warned against permitting affected members of their crews to land. The legislation necessary for suppressing these diseases is provided for by Ordinance No. 11 of 1931, and by Venereal Disease (Amendment) Ordinance, 1934. (2) General Sanitation. (a) Sewage disposal. Sewage is disposed of partly by water carriage system, and partly by E.C. method. The night soil is removed by tumbler carts under supervision of the Public Works Department. The system of disposal is very efficient, because, though all the sewage is deposited in the harbour, none is ever in evidence on the foreshore. (b) Scavenging. In accordance with the Public Health Bye-laws, all ashes, and household refuse are stored in ash'bins, and emptied once a month, at least. This system is reasonably adequate, and in such a cold climate, does not give rise to any appreciable nuisance. (c) Roads and Drainage. The roads and drainage of Stanley are adequate to present needs, and except to mention their excellence in proportion to the size of the town, call for no further comment. (d) Water Supply. The water supply is wholesome and satisfactory, but will have to be increased to meet future requirements. (e) Slaughter-houses and Meat Inspection. The three licensed slaughterhouses were inspected with reasonable frequency and were found to comply with the Board of Health Bye-laws on all occasions. The meat to be sold for human consumption was also inspected on these occasions. (f) Dairies. The dairies were inspected from time to time and found to be fairly satisfactory. The testing of milk samples carried out showed that the standard of cleanliness had been maintained. No sample was found to contain the bacilli of tuberculosis. (3) School Hygiene. There are two schools in Stanley, the Government School and St. Mary’s School attached to the Catholic Church. The former has 201 pupils on the roll, and the latter 62. The Medical Officers and Dental Surgeon inspected the schools at intervals. At these inspections particular attention is paid to dental and eye conditions and importance is attached to the recorded weights of every child. It is considered that the high standard at which the hygienic state of the schools is maintained reflects great credit on those responsible. (4) H OUSING. Many new houses of a highly improved type have been built during the past few years, and the rate of building is adequate to present needs. There is no housing problem in Stanley.