Report of the Chief Medical Officer / Barbados.

  • Barbados. Department of Medical Services.
Date:
[1944]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Report of the Chief Medical Officer / Barbados. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    60. Thus a total of 7,352 children received dental treatment; of these 6,947 had 11,905 teeth extracted; 116 had 191 teeth filled, and 289 received treatment for conditions affecting the gums. School Meals 61. The school meal still consists of milk and biscuits. Condensed milk is used in some schools, while in others boiled and sweetened cows’ milk is given. I would like to see the daily ration of milk in¬ creased to at least 10-12 ounces per day. Milk is one of the protective foods, and is a great asset to the diet of the child, but in the quantities given it cannot supply the daily requirements of the child. A high percentage of the school children avail themselves of this meal. If it were possible for arrangements to be made to provide a hot, well bal¬ anced meal to the children, in addition to making a milk ration avail¬ able to those children in particular need of this important food, then this would be a great step forward in the nutritional standard of this most vulnerable group of persons in the community. 62. I am glad to record that the experiment which was tried out in two schools of replacing milk and biscuits by fancy molasses and biscuits was abandoned on the 9th December, 1943. The reasons for condemning the scheme were given in last year’s report. School Buildings. 63. The latrines in many schools are not of a modern type, and in many cases are not sanitary. A full report on the latrines at all elementary schools, with recommendations for their improvement, has been submitted, and it is hoped that some active measures will soon be possible for the improvement of school latrines. It is understood that a scheme including provision for increased and improved lavatory accommodation is shortly to be submitted from the Department of Education. (b) HEALTH EDUCATION. 64. Pupils of elementary schools receive instruction on Hygiene and Sanitation. This instruction is given by the school teachers, and should be of great benefit to the children. This instruction should, as far as possible, follow practical lines. 65. During the month of February 1943, a Health Week Cam¬ paign was held throughout the Island. The campaign was carried out under the auspices of the General Board of Health with the co-opera¬ tion of the several Boards of Commissioners of Health of the parishes. Instructive lectures were given by many Medical Practitioners and moving pictures were shown on various topics of Public Health inter¬ est. Attendances at all meetings were excellent, and the campaign afforded an opportunity to a large number of people to become ac¬ quainted with many aspects of Public Health and Sanitation. I should like to record my thanks to the Commissioners of Health for their co-operation, and to the various lecturers for their willing assistance.