Health and Safety in Bermuda

The Department of Health is authorized to provide disease control, prevention and health campaign assistance. The public health service is considerably engaged in providing personal health services and health programs including rehabilitation, school health, immunization, maternal and child health. St. Brendan Hospital and the general hospital are managed by the Bermuda Hospitals Board, a legislative body selected by the Family Services and Ministry of Health. In 1999, the Government expense on social and health services is around US$ 112 million.

The specific health problems of children ages between 0 to 4 years include low birth weight infants, measles, mumps, and respiratory diseases. From ages between 10 and 19 years the leading causes of dead are accidents, pregnancy, and respiratory diseases. Health problem that encountered by the adult ages between 20 to 59 years are alcohol related, smoking (tobacco and marijuana), suicide, overweight or obesity, diabetic and cancers according to the survey of National Drug Commission in 2000. Other causes of death in the country include HIV/AIDS, heart disease, malignant neoplasms, Hepatitis B, acute respiratory infections, salmonella, shigellosis and among others.

In 2000, the populace was estimated at 61,700, 52% are female and 48% male. Rate for crude birth was 13.2 for every 1,000 population in 1999 and 0.7% is the yearly rate in population growth. Life expectation at birth m/f (years) is 75/79 in 2000. In 1999, the country has around 17 physicians for every 10,000 people, more than 800 licensed nurses, and 4.6 dentists for every 10,000 individuals. Bermudians can dial 911 for an ambulance in Bermuda.