Colonial power

Tropical diseases were a major problem on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. Therefore, the colonial power constructed a comprehensive health care system at an early time. But after the slavery era the system collapsed, because no one wanted to accept the responsibility and pay for it.

According to the current legislation, the enslaved laborers did not have many rights. But some dared nevertheless to complain to the chief of police about poor treatment – for example, if they were starving or were forced to work when they were sick. Many complaints were rejected by the chief of police, but he investigated some cases more closely.

Toward the end of the 1700s, more and more enslaved laborers began to submit complaints to the authorities. Regarding, for instance, too little food. It happened that the enslaved laborers had their claims upheld. Some times because even though the planters had complied with the law, they had not observed contemporary Christian norms.

When enslaved laborers became ill or their sense of justice was stifled, they often sought help in the spiritual world and went to the “Obeah man”. With rituals and magical objects, he could restore health and a sense of justice.

Infant mortality was high in the Danish West Indies, for which reason the health care system from early on had a focus on the midwives. The position and the education as a midwife was one of the few offices women had access to. It provided a special status.

The hospitals were an important part of the health care system on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. There were three types of hospitals: garrison hospitals, plantation hospitals and hospitals for lepers.

The pious Moravians, also called “baas”, were the dominant Christian religious community in the Danish colony in the West Indies. The Moravians wanted to evangelize for their Christian faith but were also driven by a desire to improve the miserable living conditions for the enslaved population.

The public health service on the Danish West Indies was established during the period of approximately 1755-1800. It was constructed as a miniature model of the domestic version in Denmark. But transplanting and constructing that structure in the Caribbean was not without problems, and one of the problems was the pharmacies.

The superior official in the Danish West Indies was the commandant and later the governor(-general). The title changed through time and the same did the headquarters of the office – from St. Thomas to St. Croix and back again.