'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎141v] (287/470)

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(54) It is satisfactory to know that, with the dissolution of this Committee, the
importance of guidance and control in the future development of the town and port
of Basrah has not been lost sight of, and that steps will be taken to prepare schemes
for water supply, drainage and refuse disposal, and to delimit industrial, residential
and commercial areas.
(55) Two areas (the cloth bazaar in ‘Ashar town and a sarifah encampment
near the ‘Ashar butchery) suffered clearance through fire, and in both cases oppor
tunity was taken to keep them as open spaces until a considered plan of reconstruction
could be carried out.
(56) The housing inspection register, first started last year, has continued in use
as other duties of the inspectors have permitted, and 3,254 houses (figures for six
months only for Basrah) have been inspected, sanitary defects have been reported,
and the necessary following up has been done until improvement has been obtained.
(57) Inspection of Nuisances. —Nuisances detected thus, or in the execution of
the inspectors’ other work in connection with enquiries into deaths and infectious
disease, are dealt with in the usual way, by verbal or written notice, followed by
prosecution before the Military Governor if necessary. During the year, 393 written
notices were served and 91 prosecutions were taken (including 21 for concealment
of infectious disease).
(58) A few offensive trades, such as the drying and salting of hides and the
sorting and packing of wool, are supervised by this Department. The former trade
is limited to an area beyond the Basrah slaughter-houses, and the distance from the
city makes the nuisance of no importance, and for the control of both the necessary
sanitary regulations have been framed and approved.
(59) Carriage of Corpses to Holy Cities. —The custom of disinterring corpses
and transferring the remains for burial at Najaf and Karbala results in a considerable
traffic through the port from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , in addition to the numbers carried
from Basrah itself. The traffic was stopped in April, and was resumed in November
by permission of G.O.C.-in-Chief, under certain conditions requiring inspection by
this Department, and during the year passes were issued in respect of 626 bodies.
(60) Sanitary Progress. —At the end of the last annual report the following
four points were submitted as needing attention :—
(i) The conservancy transport in ‘Ashar : an establishment has now been
fixed and no difficulty is experienced in maintaining it at strength, and it is assumed
that the various draught animals loaned by the Military will shortly be purchased
by the municipality, as has been done in Basrah.
(ii) A water supply for ‘Ashar: now obtained to the extent of about 25,000
gallons daily through standpipes.
(hi) A drainage scheme: no comprehensive scheme has yet been framed, but
following upon the recent rains an attempt has been made at procuring better
surface drainage of the more important roads.
(iv) A modern isolation hospital: although the matter has been discussed,
nothing has yet been done.
(61) In addition to the results reported above, the following sanitary progress
during 1918 may be noted :—
(i) Completion of sanitary survey of all Arab villages within the extended
municipal area and approval of recommendations made.
(ii) Execution of above recommendations in Akhwat Raznah, Kut-al-Hijaj,
Tanumah and Qardalan.
(hi) Removal of animal transport from Basrah City and provision of suitable
stables outside the town.
(iv) Extension of latrine and incinerator provision and erection of urinals in
‘Ashar and Basrah.
(v) Institution of notification of births.
(vi) Registration and inspection of mid wives.
(62) Recommendations. Attention may be drawn to the following points needing
attention in the near future :—
(i) The erection of a modern isolation hospital with accommodation for 100
patients, and capable of temporary expansion if required. .
(ii) A lock hospital for the inspection and treatment of prostitutes is required:
the provision of a new isolation hospital will free a suitable site.