British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 621

CHAPTER XVI.

(v) To conduct venereal clinics in principal centres.

Clinics are in operation in Hebron town and selected neighbouring villages. Venereal disease clinics are conducted for men at Jaffa, Haifa and Jerusalem, and for women in conjunction with gyuaecological clinics at Jerusalem . Jaffa, Haifa, Acre, and Nablus.

(vi) To promote and conduct infant welfare and maternity centres.

The Department conducts and shares in the support of 18 urban infant welfare centres and 20 village infant welfare centres. In larger centres there is generally a local committee which bears part of the cost and supplies voluntary assistance. In smaller places the village local authority sometimes provides accommodation and servants; the nurse and equipment are provided by Government.

The Princess Mary Maternity Centre in Jerusalem is maintained by the Government. Deliveries average 550 per annum. A district midwifery and nursing service is also maintained in Jerusalem. The Midwives' Training School is based on these services. Fifteen Arab women undergo training at this school annually; these numbers are insufficient to meet the growing need. Amongst the Jews there was, in 1939, one licensed midwife to every 1500persons; amongst the Arabs the proportion was 1 to 4000. At the present slow rate of training Arab women it would take 30 years for the Arab community to reach adequacy. The training of larger numbers is necessary and this can only be done by opening additional midwives' training schools. Licensed midwives and dayas, the untrained local midwives, are under the inspection of Superintendents of Midwifery stationed in Jerusalem , Jaffa. Nablus, Haifa and Gaza.

(vii) To conduct gynaecological/ and ante-natal clinics in the principal centres.

Two women doctors are employed on this service. Clinics are maintained in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Nablus, Haifa and Acre.

(viii) To hold medical board on sick officers and on candidates for employment.

The Department's medical officers hold District Medical Boards in all administrative centres. Proceedings of District Boards are submitted for ratification to a Central Medical Board. The Central Medical Board examines all candidates for permanent employment, for invaliding and for retirement on grounds of health; and applications for sick leave exceed-

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