Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation.

  • Durban (South Africa). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1976]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    73/182 (page 61)
    A demonstration of garden trenching was given at the Sheltered Employment Workshop after a request from this group to initiate a garden there. This garden has not been maintained due to lack of interest. An enquiry was made of the Director, Hospital Services, as to the possibility of establishing an ante¬ natal clinic at the Wentworth Hospital to serve the residents of Austerville/Wentworth. Both physically and financially the long journey to the Addington Antenatal clinic is a demanding one and many expectant mothers do not attend. Tent Town The temporary settlement of victims of the flooded Tin Town area brought many problems most of which were successfully resolved by the formation of a Vigilance Committee. This was effected with the co¬ operation of a voluntary Indian welfare worker. Members of the Vigilance Committee maintained order by patrolling the area at night and by the introduction of a rota system for use of the limited cooking and wasning facilities. The enlistment of the Indian Boy Scouts movement to organise activities for the children proved most fruitful. Repeated heavy rain flooded many tents. A generous donation of timber flooring by a local businessman enabled numerous residents to instal raised flooring to obviate flooding problems. Phoenix Discussions took place with the housing section of the City Engineer*s Department on the proposed town centre and community facility requirements. Plans for the community centre envisage, inter alia, a community hall for recreational purposes, together with a defined area for garden allotments. While occupation of the Phoenix Township oommenced in July, some two months elapsed before the first school opened. Truancy was a problem and the incidence of dagga smoking amongst children of early primary school age was cause for concern. Apart from the school and the City Health clinic, absence of the basic community facilities to serve this isolated area 25 kilometres out of town created difficulties for residents. In an attempt to counter the increasing number and complexity of social problems which arose,