Annual report / Medical Department, Fiji.

  • Fiji. Medical Department.
Date:
[1948]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    6/34 (page 6)
    , , riie following is a summary of the work carried out by Health Inspectors and Assistant Health Inspectors during the year:— (a) General Sanitary Inspection.—55,965 inspections and re-inspections were carried out, as the result of which 17,791 sanitary defects were remedied. 3,730 written notices were issued. Action in respect of structural defects was limited by the continued shortages of building materials, but buildings in suburan areas so dilapidated as to be beyond repair received attention as follows:— Closing Orders issued .. .. ., .. .. 28 Demolition Orders issued . .. .. .. ., 42 Buildings demolished by owners .. . . . . 40 Buildings demolished by Local Authorities .... 2 (b) Food Supplies and Premises.— 1 he following food premises were under regular control— Registered bakehouses .. .. .. .. .. 47 Eating houses under permits . . .. . . .. 75 Aerated water factories under permits .. .. .. 16 Ice factories under permits .. .. .. .. 9 Ice cream manufactories under permits .. .. 61 Six thousand two hundred and fifty-five inspections were made of food premises and vehicles and 869 improvements to such premises completed during the year.- Food inspection was well maintained and approximately 45|- tons of unsound food¬ stuffs were condemned and destroyed. Eighty-one samples** of food were taken for laboratory examination (69 chemical: 12 bacteriological) and appropriate action was taken in respect of substandard goods. (c) Supervision of Erection of New Buildings.—In 18 sanitary districts, excluding the Town of Suva, Health Inspectors, who act also as Building Inspectors, dealt with 970 applications in respect of new buildings or structural alterations and repairs to a value of £450,000. At the end of the year 711 building projects were under supervision. {d) Legal Proceedings.— Legal proceedings were instituted in 43 instances for offences against Public Health and Pure Food legislation and 42 convictions were obtained. (2) SEWAGE DISPOSAL. 58. The installation of septic tanks in suburban and rural districts was encouraged and 104 applications lor permission to instal septic tanks were received. 500 reinforced concrete latrine slabs, which aie manufactured at the Health Office, Suva, were supplied at cost price to applicants who wished to instal them. (3) GARBAGE DISPOSAL. 59 In 11 sanitary districts, 4,649 premises were served by regular garbage collection services supported by garbage collection rates. One additional service was being arranged at the end of the year. (4) RAT DESTRUCTION. 60. In six districts, 19,769 traps were set and 6,047 rats were caught. Of 140 rats submitted for laboratory examination none were found to be infected. (5) WATER SUPPLIES. 61. Water supplies in all towns and township areas are under Government control. The Suva W ater supply is chlorinated, but receives no other treatment, and after heavy rain discoloura¬ tion appeals. It is hoped that it will be possible to instal an efficient filtration and chlorination plant as part of the Colony’s development programme. In the meantime, the typhoid inoculation campaign has been continued. 120 samples of drinking water were taken for laboratory examina¬ tion during the year. (6) SCHOOL HEALTH AND HYGIENE. ~ ~ 62‘ T hTT m1S?e?.10n °f sch°o1 children was carried out during the year by District Medical Officers and Health Sisters. In the Suva area a Health Sister, Miss E.~ M Kennedy was fully employed on school inspections, assisted by a trained Fijian and a trained Indian nurse The scheme of examination was similar to that followed in 1947 by Dr. F. A. Thomson, which was iully described in the Annual Report for that year. The following is a summary of the work carried out:— J [a) each child was weighed and measured and was given a vision test. The head was examined for lice and nits. Observations were made of signs of ill health and niutr- tional deficiencies from the state of teeth, mouth, skin, eyes, muscle tone and posture, lhe results of findings were recorded on individual medical cards; (b'j children suspected of suffering from a chronic or acute disease were referred to a medical officer. Those in need of dental attention were advised to visit their dentist or arrangements were made for their attendance at the Dental Clinic. Arrangements were made for children with defective eye-sight to see the eve specialist who visited the Colony during the year; (c) specimens of stools were sent for examination for parasites, and arrangements were made for treatment when this was necessary; (d) careful investigations were made in the cases of children having relatives with tuber¬ culosis, leprosy or syphilis; (*) irJTcafe,s °Lminor complaints and pediculosis, the children were treated either at the Health Office Clinic or in the schools;