Medical report / British Honduras.

  • British Honduras. Medical Department.
Date:
[1935]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Medical report / British Honduras. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    31/46 (page 23)
    Quarantine.—The provisions of M. P. 714-34 were kept up and the majority of peo¬ ple riding quarantine showed valid certificates of vaccinations, so that accordingly good use has been made of the alternative of vaccination. This is by far a better way of en¬ suring that the provisions of the Quarantine law be upheld; for there must be a lot of evasion with the alternative of surveillance which moreover cannot be extended to such cases as reach the Colony by other than the port of entry of Punta Gorda. The number of persons who reported for Quarantine surveillance during the year was 1,311 and the number of boats given pratique was 723. The United Fruit Company’s boats called regularly every week and on the occasion of the three voyages that they had touched foreign ports before calling at Punta Gorda, showed a clean bill of health and proper deratisation certificates. The Out district.—The more populous villages of San Antomo, Crique Sarco and Barranco, and the town of Monkey River were periodically visited during the year, and occasion was taken at the same time of vaccinating all children that needed it. Occasion was also taken to instruct the “pueblos” as far as it was feasible on the chief points of hygiene and prevention of their prevalent diseases but it was found impossible to institute any measure of massive antihelminthic or anti-malarial treatement. In the case of San Antonio, however, it was found possible to start locally on the treatment by the School-master of the inhabitants; early in June, he was supplied with the necessary instructions and drugs wherewith to treat ambulant cases of malaria, heminthia- sis and minor ailments, including tropical ulceration. This arrangement might be hoped to succeed in the case of the Indian not tiring of its novelty, which is doubtful, and the continued zeal of the School-master. SANITATION. This, for want of funds, remains much of a desideratum. The District Board attends to the routine measures as best it can under the circumstances but any plan of co-ordina¬ ted, co-operative work along accepted lines is an impossibility as long as sufficient staff is not found and direct subordination of this to the Medical Department is not brought about. The general points of sanitation are with regard to: (1) Disposal of Refuse.—No provision is made for this and the people get rid of their rubbish as best they can into any nearby drain or ditch or in the high bush prevalent at odd places all the year round. No refuse bins have been provided, no scavenger goes round the town to collect these unsightly heaps which accumulate everywhere. (2) Oiling of the town: —The Sanitary Inspector has been far too busy doing the work of the District Board to attend to this as assiduously as hitherto. He submits a monthly index of mosquito breeding which is passed on to the Chairman with recom¬ mendations as to the necessity for pushing this very desirable work. The work of oiling goes on spasmodically as funds allow of oil and helper, regardless of the rather fluctuat¬ ing monthly indices, which therefore have only a perfunctiory value and are treated as such in necessary routine and nothing more. Moreover, not enough weight is given to cases brought into court for mosquito breeding and the public at large is made to attach less and less importance to the necessity of checking the mosquito population. The pool¬ ing of water in lots is not looked after, where the owner should be obliged to fill all pools, holes and depresions not only, but also be made to practice water-tidiness to the utmost. (3) Latrines:—Have not been painted or whitewashed during the year—the latter is a necessity, calling for its repetition if not monthly, at least quarterly. They are cleaned three times a week, but are always in a state of indifferent repair, and always offensive. Their number, eight, is inadequate to the needs of the town and one at least is strongly needed at its north end. Pit latrines at the back of the town are also needed. (4) Market:—Is inadequate in size and equipment, which needs replacing badly. It is unscreened and needs a coat of paint early. (5) The Slaughter House: —is in a state of complete disrepair and wants rebuilding anew, on simple lines and admitting of easy cleaning. Hot water should be made available by the provision of a small incinerator, to burn rubbish brought in cy the scavenger.