Annual medical and sanitary report of the Director of Medical Services / Trinidad and Tobago.

  • Trinidad and Tobago. Department of Medical Services.
Date:
[1936]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Annual medical and sanitary report of the Director of Medical Services / Trinidad and Tobago. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    62/74 (page 50)
    SECTION XI.—MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE. The maternity service is dealt with under the heading Hospitals and Dispensaries. The report of the Child Welfare League of Trinidad and Tobago for 1936 is a recordL of excel en work This is a purely voluntary organisation obtaining its funds by private subscript donations^ Government provides a subsidy of $4,320 and the city of Port-of-Spam cont ibuted $240. An additional branch from the Stephens Clinic, Port-of-Spam, was opened m Sackville Street, a further advance in the policy of conducting centres m the poorei aieas of the city. A new clinic with which is associated a small maternity ward was opened under the auspices of United British Oilfields Ltd., at Point Fortin, whilst owing to the rapid developmei which had been commenced in 1935 at the Kern Trinidad Oilfields it was found necessary to establish there a separate branch of the League in 1936. There were at the end of the year 14 district branches with 20 clinic centres. The infantile mortality rate fell from 99'42 m 1935 to 96'82. The teaching of mothercraft in schools continued to be a. feature of the work of the League. Series of lectures and practical demonstrations were given at schools m Port-of-Spam, San Feina Tunapuna and Princes Town. . ^ , Reference has been made to the interest taken by certain oil mining companies m Maternity i / i iri Welfare Services It is to be recorded however that several estates are taking a practica interest hiwelfar^o ^ the mothers and children in their employ. Particularly is this true of a number of sugar estates which now provide creches for the children of working mothers. In the the infants are not only tended during the day, but in some cases, they are also supplied with milk. While this is true mainly of the larger business concerns it is particularly gratifying that in one of the smaller estates namely Reform Estates Ltd., an excellent start has been made In the case o his estate a trained nurse is employed. In addition to attendance at the Creche which has been instituted she pays regular visits to the homes of the labourers. Each child attending the Creche r<-ccives b pint of fresh cow’s milk daily and is provided with clothing to wear at the cieche. Frepaie foods suchPas quaker oats are also supplied free of charge. A monthly clinic ior sick children has arranged by the estate authorities at which the services of the Government Medical Officer are available. Sir mle medicines are supplied by the Department. The estate in question has advanced beyond the strict limits of Child Welfare work by interesting the tenants and labourers m general matters of hygienic importance. “ Sanitation competitions ” have been held by a local committee assisted by teachers of the Canadian Mission School and prizes awarded to those tenants whose houses and gardens were judged to be in the best condition. When the example so well shown by these estates is followed by all, Trinidad will have advanced far towards the attainment of a healthy and contented peasantry. SECTION X.—PRISONS. Roval Gaol— The general health of the prisoners was satisfactory and no unusual outbreak of dFnse occurred. Of persons committed 2'33 per cent, necessitated admission to the infirmary. Minor ailments and injuries on admissions were dealt with to the extent of 27’95 per cent. Four hundred and twenty-two prisoners were admitted to the infirmary. Of these 39'were for treatment of hookworm disease, 21 for other intestinal conditions, 52 for influenza and 63 for temporary pyrexia in a minor degree. Thirty-three males and 29 females were kept under observation for mental conditions of whom 9 and 14 respectively were transferred to the Mental Hospital at St Ann’s The daily average number in the infirmary was 7-94 whilst the average number sick in cells but not requiring infirmary treatment was L99 making a total of 993. There were seven deaths at the Royal Gaol, five were judicial executions, one was due to cardiac failure and one to ankylostomiasis and anaemia. Buildings and sanitary arrangements were maintained in a satisfactory condition. Carrera Convict Prison.—At Carrera conditions were satisfactory. The average number of convicts was 224*61 while the daily average in the infirmary was 3-33 or 1 03 per cent, of the population. With the exception of one case of dysentery, the only death, there was no communicable disease The buildings and grounds were satisfactorily maintained and sanitary conditions were satisfactory. Young Offenders Detention Station.-The daily average of persons under detention was 105-6 the total admissions during the year being 285. The attendances at the Dispensary numbered 447 whilst the number admitted to the infirmary was 75. There were no deaths. A small outbreak of dysentery towards the end of the year was traced to flies breeding m manure heaps and kitchen refuse. In addition to receiving a primary education the boys are given a practical industrial training. Their leisure hours are spent in the open air in various forms of sport and in organised games. Convict Depot, Scarborough.—The admissions to this institution numbered 45 of which 36 were men and nine women. The general condition on admission was satisfactory, the majority of the prisoners being capable of hard labour. Three men were admitted to hospital and four were recommended for medical observation. Of the latter, two were transferred to the Mental Hospital at St. Ann s. The sanitary arrangements were well maintained and there was no case of infectious disease.