Annual report / Medical Department, Fiji.

  • Fiji. Medical Department.
Date:
[1944]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report / Medical Department, Fiji. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nss Tihe Royal Sanitary Institute Library. 1945. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FIJI. COUNCIL PAPER 13. Medical Department. (Annual Report for 1944.) I.—ADMINISTRATION. STAFF. Until the return of Dr. V. W. T. McGusty from discussions in London on the proposed regional co-ordination of the South-west Pacific Medical Services, the duties of Director of Medical Services continued to be carried out by Dr. H. Silvester Evans. Dr. McGusty returned to the Colony on 13th January. During the year there was a further reduction in the number of medical officers by the transfer of Dr. J. S. Cramer to Trinidad in March, and by the retirement from ill-health of Dr. W. G. MacNaughton and Dr. E. V. Maxwell. Seven native medical practitioners left Fiji on secondment to the British Solomon Islands as this territory became freed from enemy forces. These native practitioners were necessarily drawn from the younger and more recently qualified men. The numbers of effective professional and sanitary staff at the end of the year were:—- (a) Medical Officers— Including Medical Officer of Health, Medical Superintendent, Leper Hospital, and Pathologist .. . . .. ... 17 Part-time Ophthalmologist .. .. .. .. .. 1 Dental Officer .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Indian and Native Medical Practitioners .. .. .. 70 (b) Nursing Staff—- Trained Nurses (Registered) . . .. .. .. .. 50 Non-European Nurses (Local Certificate) .. .. .. 127 Others—chiefly Nurses in Training .. .. .. .. 117 Nursing Sisters, Makogai Leper Hospital .. .. .. 16 (c) Sanitary Staff- Sanitary Inspectors (Registered) .. .. .. .. 3 Sanitary Assistants .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 LEGISLATION. The following health legislation was enacted during the year:— Ordinances—Nil. Regulations— Labasa Hospital (Amendment) Regulations 1944. Native Medical Practitioners to practise only as Public Officers. Public Health (Amendment) Regulations 1943. Public Health (Bake House) Regulations 1943. Pure Food (Amendment) Regulations 1944— No. 1: Standard for Bread, etc. No. 2: Standard for Liquors. WORKS. Wartime restrictions in the supply of materials continued and the only major item of medical works was that of a 24-bed extension to the Lautoka Hospital at a cost of some £12,000. Although this extension was, in fact, an item of war expenditure rendered imperative by the need for emergency hospital accommodation, it provides a greatly needed permanent addition to the local hospital services. A further considerable programme of ancillary buildings for this hospital is planned.