Report of the Medical Officer of Health / Municipality of Colombo.

  • Colombo (Sri Lanka). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1940]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health / Municipality of Colombo. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/18 (page 2)
    Colombo was declared free from Plague on April 26, 1939. The last case of Human Plague occurred on June 1,1938, and the last case of Rat Plague on August 23, 1938. (b) Other Infectious Diseases.—As compared with the figures of the previous year Phthisis and Whooping Cough showed an increase in the number of cases reported. Continued Fever, Diphtheria, and Measles also showed a very slight increase, viz., 3, 5, and 7 cases, respectively, more than in 1939. On the other hand there was a definite lowering in the figures as regards Enteric Fever and Dysentery. Phthisis.—A special officer was appointed in March, 1940, for a period of one year, the two chief conditions of his appointment being (a) to submit a report on the question of Tuberculosis in the City and (b) to bring the scheme into complete operation before the end of the year from the date of his appointment. The report was submitted in May, and in June the Council accepted its gene¬ ral principles. The actual practical part of the scheme was started in August, and in September another Medical Officer was appointed as assistant to the special officer. Arrangements were made to have a clinic once a fortnight in the afternoon at ten of the Municipal Free Dispensaries, the Medical Officer of the particular dispensary assisting. Two male Health Visitors were also appointed. 3. General Sanitation.—The usual routine work of the Medical Officers of Health and the Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors has been carried on with due care and diligence and I can record a good year’s work. » 4. Epidemiology and Vital Statistics.—A special Malaria Survey of the City was undertaken, and it is hoped that the Survey will be completed very soon. A regular systematic cleansing of those parts of the City where the labouring classes dwell was restarted during the year. This is done free by the depart¬ ment’s gangs of labourers. This is a very great boon to all, and I am glad to say that the people themselves appreciate our every efforts and give us their co-operation. The weekly returns of the figures of Enteric Fever and Diarrhceal diseases are our chief guide as to which section of the City is to be dealt with in this manner. 5. Maternity and Child Welfare.—This section continues to do very good work as will be seen from Part IV. of this report. The chief difficulty experienced with regard to Maternity and Child Welfare work is the poor type of Health Nurse available for the filling of vacancies. Even the number of applicants is very limited. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the remuneration received is not quite equivalent to that obtained in Government Service and also to the limited prospects. It is hoped that this will soon be adjusted. 6. Crematorium.—The crematorium was opened to the public on October 4, 1940. The number of cremations up to the date of writing has been disappointing.