ABSTRACT
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Bahamas, the Department of Family Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, through its residency programme, has been providing primary care to the island of Bimini for one year. In order to extend this care to include comprehensive medical care, a health and ecology fair was planned by the Medical School, the Ministry of Health and a Health Committee representative of the island community. The islanders themselves raised most of the funds to cover transportation, accommodations and cost of laboratory tests. Additional support was provided by G. D. Searle International Company and Biochemistry Associates International. Approximately 15 persons from the Department of Family Medicine provided the health manpower on a voluntary basis. The objectives of the study were: (1) to obtain prevalence information on biochemical and pesticide residues of the inhabitants, (2) to upgrade medical records of the community, and (3) establish a baseline profile of the population and biochemical characteristics of the individual against which future medicine could be practiced. Approximately one-third of the island (530) of the 1,500 inhabitants, mostly children and adolescents, participated in this fair. Physical and visual screening were conducted and serum was obtained from 254 islanders. SMA-12, VDRL, PAP smears, imminizations, TB tests, and serum organochlorine studies were completed. The prevalence of these biochemical test are presented and distribution frequences of selected biochemistries are discussed. Abnormal findings and the most suitable thyroid tests in a populatioin favouring fish in their diet is described. Plans for completion of a total island survey are under way for 1972 (AU)