Bethal-business centre – 1975. Health services Combating diseases One of the main tasks of the first town fathers was prevention and control of infectious diseases in humans as well as in animals and plants. In such an undertaking, the Council decided to design a contest with attractive price. The prize would go to the person with the most innovative and effective flydestroyer! The decision was made in the midst of a 1914 fly-plaque, during which time the Town Council gave residents free fly packets. The first reported actions of the Council, to combat the epidemic, are found in the minutes of 16 April 1912. According to the notification, all schools received instructions to close that day, 16 April 1912 to and including 31 May 1912, due to a scarlet fever. The much-talked about 1918 flu also claimed its toll on Bethal residents. Striking in this regard is the Chief Medical Officer report. On 23rd November 1918, an emergency was set up for whites. Several members of the Town Council, as well as members of the public were also affected by this flu. This meant that the essential services that were carried out by the Chairman and members of the Health Committee on the non-whites hospital were adversely affected. An additional committee, chaired by Mr M Freed from the Town Council and the school principal, was put into action. The duty of the committee would be to assist the remaining members of Health Committee in their task. All duties were carried out in cooperation with the Chairman of the Works and Health Committee. A total of 78 whites’ patients were treated in hospital of which, only nine died. The Health Officer was convinced that the low mortality was due to the establishment of an emergency hospital. It was particularly mentioned how the inhabitants of Bethal helped to work against the epidemic. For example, the setting up of an emergency hospital, in the space of 24 hours; ready to use against the epidemic. Each article used in the hospital, was made available by the community. This applied not only to medical supplies, but foodstuff such as: chickens, butter, vegetables, etc. were freely given and without reservation by farmers from the surrounding farms, as gifts. 49
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