Annual report on the Medical Department, Brunei.

  • Brunei. Medical Department.
Date:
[1930]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Medical Department, Brunei. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/34 (page 9)
    Other Labour The British Malayan Petroleum Company employed a total labour force of 741 during the year at Kuala Bel ait and Labi. There is a small hospital at each place in charge of a Resident Dresser, and a Medical Officer from Miri visits at regular intervals. The following table shows the common causes of illness of those treated either in Hospital or lines: — Place of Employment Population ras-.- -gremir CO +-> U rr\ hH Total treated Dysentery and Diarrhoea ■ Malaria Beri Beri 1 Intestinal worms CD A CTj 0) Tj 03 -4-» O H 33 Infant mortality I British Malayan Petroleum Co., Oilfields 741 2 1,861 23 83 5 . . . 13 (6) Housing and Town Planning Erection of all new buildings in the three Sanitary Board areas are under control of the Boards, to whom plans of all proposed buildings are submitted, and from whom approval of the plans must be got before building is com¬ menced. It is expected that Kuala Belait will expand consider¬ ably during the next few years, and the Sanitary Board of that area will grant building lots on an prearranged plan. (7) Food in Relation to Health and Disease The inspection and control of food in the Brunei market is carried out by a Market Inspector. Inspection of dairies, eating houses, coffee-shops and Slaughter-houses is carried out by the Sanitary Inspector. Both of those Officials are under the supervision of the Health Officer. IV.—MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE The high infantile mortality rate is the biggest single problem before the Medical Department of the State. In 1930, 333 children under one year of age died, giving a crude infantile mortality rate of 246*85 per thousand births. The Brunei women are still practically “purdah”, and midwifery is practised in the kampongs by untrained persons, with results that are bad in the extreme. There is no quali¬ fied midwife in the State, but it is hoped to provide one in