Social studies topic 1

• Mauritius obtained its independence from British rule on 12 March 1968
• Mauritius became a sovereign democratic country with its own Constitution
• From 1968 to 1992, the Queen of Britain remained the Head of State and Mauritius had a Governor-General who represented the Queen
• In 1992, Mauritius became a Republic and the Queen was no longer the Head of State. Since then, the country has a President as the Head of State
• Mauritius has made a lot of progress in the social, political and economic fields and is one of the most successful countries in Africa
• The life of Mauritians in the years following independence was not easy, as they faced many social and economic difficulties
• Social problems in Mauritius in the 1960s at the time of independence


  • Rapid rise in population
  • Housing conditions
  • Health issues
• Housing conditions in the 1960s

  • Most houses were built of thatched roof or corrugated iron sheets, straw and wooden houses were also common, even in the town of Port Louis many inhabitants lived in wooden houses, huts and shacks
• Cyclones 'Alix' and 'Carol' in 1960


  Caused widespread destruction, thousands of houses were destroyed, and many people became homeless
• Housing Reconstruction Programme


  Central Housing Authority (CHA) set up to provide concrete houses to those made homeless by the cyclones, between 1961 and 1970 some 14,000 houses were built all over the island and sold at a subsidised price
• After cyclone 'Gervaise' hit the country in 1975, the government began a programme to build 10,000 houses over a period of 5 years, with responsibility given to CHA, MHC and SILWF</b>
• Loans at very low interest rates were provided to the poor and low income households for the purchase of these houses
• Health issues in the 1960s

  • There were thousands of cases of malaria, poliomyelitis and tuberculosis, other issues included anaemia among women, malnutrition, digestive disorders and ear diseases
• Measures taken by the government

  Led to a decline in the number of diseases in the 1960s
• In 1968, there were eight hospitals in Mauritius, including two large ones and six smaller ones
• Since Rodrigues was granted autonomy in 2002, the health services there have been under the responsibility of the Commission for Health, with one major hospital and two Area Health Centres
• Rapid rise in population

  The population of Mauritius increased from 420,000 in 1944 to 795,000 in 1968, partly due to the government's campaign against malaria and other diseases leading to a decrease in deaths, and improved access to health care, medication and vaccination
• The rapid rise in population had consequences that need to be considered
• Who was the first governor general?

  Sir john shaw Rennie
• Name 2 large hospital

  port louis and quatre bornes
• Name the 6 small hospital

  flacq, mahebourg, souillac, moka, montage longue and poudre d'or