58 + REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

 Department of Health

 Broadly speaking, the duties, responsibilities and areas of operation
of the Department of Health in the Virgin Islands have remained
unchanged. One of the weakest areas of operation, namely that of
the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged, has been transferred out of
the Department of Health to the Department of Social Welfare, since
it is not a medical, but a welfare institution.
 Careful analyses during the past year have shown several significant
factors and trends. The leading causes of death in the Virgin Islands
have become identical with those in the continental United States in
that diseases of the heart and blood vessels form the first cause of
death and cancer the second.
 As we continue to attempt to improve the quality of medical care
rendered, while at the same time meeting the increased needs of the
community as it grows, certain indications of the need for a change in
direction of emphasis have become evident. The number of deaths
occurring outside of the hospital or within the first 72 hours of ad-
mission to the hospital has increased to the point where it seems clearly
to indicate that the need of emphasizing community services, par-
ticularly of a preventative nature is increasing.
 During the past year, many dreams have become realities. The new
outpatient annex to the Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital is now
in operation. A modern, clean, air-conditioned building, it provides
a marked improvement over services previously offered, and permits
more efficient use of the medical and paramedical personnel. It
may well serve as an example of what can be accomplished by close
cooperation between the planners and the users of a facility.
 The long and urgently needed increase in the facilities of the
Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital has now reached the stage where
bids will be shortly invited, and this facility should become available
during the fiscal year 1963.
 The modern X-ray for the Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital has
been in operation for the past 7 months, and the quality or radiological
work has correspondingly improved.
 With the occupation of the new annex in St. Croix the storage
 facilities, long needed, became available. Thus, the storage of drugs
 and foodstuff, a long time unsatisfactory situation because of the
 obsolete and impractical facilities formerly used, has now been placed
 on a modern up-to-date basis.
 The increase in cold storage facilities and additional storage areas
 for the Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital, together with an out-
 door recreation area, will become a reality during the next several
 months.