Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Seychelles.

  • Seychelles. Medical Department.
Date:
[1928]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Seychelles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/60 (page 12)
    through the Printer’s hands there will be a small catechism on Elementary Hygiene ready for use in the schools. This will be followed by a catechism on Leprosy something on the same line as the Ankylostomiasis catechism. All these little books are published in French as the mother tongue of the bulk of the school clildren is in that language. Labour Conditions. Labourers that work on the main islands are engaged by the month engagements are terminated by 15 days’ notice from either side, legal action are rare. Labourers are principally engaged in agricultural work on coconut estates. Outlying Islands inspection of. in my last year’s report I was unable to make a report on the sanitary and other conditions of these islands, and I would lay stress on the fact that the inspections which have been carried out this year, reveal that it is absolutely necessary that periodical inspections of all these islands be carried out in a systematic manner, and that at least one of these inspections during the year should be made by a Medical Officer. For years these islands were not visited or inspected with the result that managers and owners of islands did not comply with the law, polished rice was supplied as rations, Beri-Beri seems to have been prevalent and a good many labourers died from preventable disease. Mr W. A. Terry a retired official from the Government of the Union of South Africa, who had many years experience in the Law Department of the Union, where he acted as Native Commissioner and Magistrate was appointed to act as Visiting Magistrate to the Outlying Islands in 1928. He has submitted an interesting series of reports on his visits and inspections to the various islands. He has pointed out the various defects in the administration, food supply, housing and sanitary deficiencies in the different islands, and has submitted schemes for the amelioration and bettering of the conditions of the labourers employed. These administrative and other reforms have been brought before the owners of these islands, and steps taken to see that they are complied with. It is hardly necessary to emphasise the fact that if these periodical inspections and visits including at least on^ yearly medical inspection are not carried out, the reforms suggested and proposed sanitary and dietary improvements, will after a time be disregarded and the Outlying Islands will return to their former state of “laisser aller”. [The following are extracts from Mr Terry’s Official reports.] Alphonse Island. Arrived on schooner “Arne” at this island on 5th March situated latitude 7o South and is 220 miles from Mahe. Owner Teemooljee & Co. of MahA, principal production is Copra all labourers are recruited »t Mahe ana their conduct was good during the year, and they had no complaints. Population is 91 consisting of 41 men, 24 women, 26 children the working population is 56, consisting of 33 men, 10 women, 13 young boys, ships as a rule visit island every two months, camp is clean well kept, hospital requires to be whitewashed, no inmates, supply of medecines adequate, no deaths during the year, one birth. The magistrate made no reference to water supply, provisions for latrines or sanitary service, the reserves of rations (quality and quantity) in store as required by law. The magistrate was favourably impressed with the healthy appearance of the children, and that a liberal supply of food is issued as rations. Last inspection of this island was 1924, when there was a riot on the island. Astove Island of the Aldabra Group. This island belongs to the Aldabra Group, is distant 355 miles from Alphonse and nearly 600 miles from Mahe, it lies in Latitude lOoS. Longtitude 47-36E. Arrived at island on lot* March. Island property of Seychelles Government but is leased to Temooljee & Co. merchants at Victoria, last inspection on 27th August 1925. Copra main pro luction, infected with mosquitos (not ancepheles) has large guano deposits -which is exported, dnr'ng year 465 tons were shipped. Green turtles plentiful, which are made into Calipee, during the year 600 green turtles were killed. Water supply got from tanks and pits, quality brackish, sea birds are plentiful. Population consists of 25 men, 7 women and 6 children total 38. The supply of medicines kept appeared adequate. The question of latrines and housing accommodation not dealt with by the Visiting ^Magistrate.