British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 620

CHAPTER XVI.

(ii) To provide accommodation for infectious diseases.

Since 1936 two fever hospitals have been constructed, one at Jerusalem on a site of its own, the other in Haifa as part of the large new hospital there. The accommodation for this type of case was as follows in 1945

Hospitals Beds

Jerusalem 84

Jaffa 77

Haifa 101

Nablus 53

Gaza 4

Safad 26

Benei Heruq 77

Equipment and accommodation is provided for the emergency and temporary isolation of infectious diseases.

There are buildings for epidemic posts at Hebron, Ramleh and Tiberias , and a reserve of epidemic equipment is kept at the central medical stores for immediate despatch to the scene of an epidemic.

(iii) To provide hospital accommodation for Mental diseases.

At Bethlehem Mental Hospital No. 1 there are 145 beds for women and 30 beds for men and at No. 2, 64 beds for men. There is accommodation for 80 criminal lunatics in the Acre prison hospital. In 1936 funds were provided and plans approved for the construction of a mental hospital of 240 beds. for which the site had already been purchased. As a result of financial stringency following the disturbances, this project was abandoned. A temporary hospital for 175 beds was however provided near Jaffa during 1945; most of these beds have been occupied by Jewish patients. The accommodation for cases of mental disease is still inadequate.

Government medical officers undertake the certification of cases of lunacy.

The Department exercises inspectorial functions over the voluntary (Jewish) Ezrath Nashim Hospital for mental diseases of 60 beds at Jerusalem. Capital grants for reconstruction and re-equipment have been given and the administration of the hospital re-organised on lines recommended by Government.

(iv) To conduct a prison medical service and 119ii11tain sick wards in certain prisons.

There are sick wards at Acre prison (60 beds) and Jerusalem prison (12 beds).

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