Annual medical and sanitary report / Uganda Protectorate.

  • Uganda Protectorate. Medical Department.
Date:
[1918]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual medical and sanitary report / Uganda Protectorate. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/46 (page 22)
    Bush clearing lias been hampered by the impossibility of replacing worn out grass cutting machines. 2. Major Anti-Malarial Measures.— The Kampala Swamp.—The system of pipe and rubble contour drains, which was begun last year, has continued to prove satisfactory. In 1918, 4,323 lineal feet of these have been added as well as 754 filled with rubble only. 3,563 feet of subsidiary open drains have been dug. The main channels have been maintained and in places straightened. It has not been possible to apply this system to swamps in outstations. 3. Quinine Prophylaxis.— 125 lbs. of quinine and 40,675 tablets and 1,210 vaporoles were issued from the Headquarter Medical Store during the year. (B) Spirillum Fever. This disease has ceased to be of importance except in the Western Province. The District Medical Officer, Ankole, reports that it is still prevalent in the district. It is worth recording that the Lukiko Prison at Mengo, built five years ago of sun-dried brick without any cement floor, has been kept free from ticks by scrupulous cleanliness and the application of fresh cow-dung once a week. This gaol, though visited occasionally by a Medical Officer and the District Commissioner, is entirely under native control and in view of the danger from tick infestation from the constantly changing number of criminals it reflects great credit on the control. (C) Trypanosomiasis. The settlement of natives to increase the local food supply in the environs of Jinja has encroached on the fly area with the result that a few cases of Sleeping- Sickness have made their appearance. It has therefore been necessary to undertake the clearing of a strip of jungle along nearly a mile of the right bank of the Nile. This was nearly completed at the end of the year. It has not been possible to detail any Medical Officer for special investigation of the Mpologoma fly area since 1914 and the District Medical Officer now reports that it will be necessary to make extensive clearings at ferries and remove certain villages which are in the danger zone. The new Sleeping Sickness boundary marked out last year on the shores of Lake Victoria has now been proclaimed by Rules under Sleeping Sickness Ordinance and consequently many square miles of country have been re-opened for native occupation. A further area of clearing was done at the mouth of the Waki River near Butiaba on Lake Albert. Elsewhere the clearing at ferries, road-crossings, etc., have been maintained. Epidemic Diseases. The exceptional drought which has prevailed throughout the year under review has not been without effect on epidemic diseases. The food shortage among a population with a staple vegetarian diet has resulted in lowered physiological resistance to disease and no doubt has been to a great extent responsible for the high sick and death-rate from smallpox, cerebro-spinal meningitis, and influenza. While on the other hand it is possible that the food shortage has had a contrary effect on the spread of plague, as in times of famine very little food is left about in houses which would attract rats, while hot dry weather has been inimical to both the rat flea and the B. Pestis. The machinery for dealing with Epidemic Diseases in outlying parts of the Protectorate is hopelessly inadequate. Large and thickly populated districts are beyond reach of medical assistance. The duties of Medical Officers confine them so much to their station that they are unable to exercise proper control over the native plague and smallpox inspectors.