Annual medical report / Colony and Protectorate of Kenya.

  • Kenya. Medical Department.
Date:
[1954]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual medical report / Colony and Protectorate of Kenya. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/76 (page 26)
    Much experience has been gained from the epidemic. It can be recorded again that diamidines are relatively ineffective in the treatment of African kala azar. The best treatment was found to be with pentavalent antimonials, but even so, a large proportion of the cases relapsed and had to be further treated. The Medical Specialist made a survey of the population towards the end of the year and discovered many relapsed cases and one or two cases of dermal leishmaniasis. Far-reaching entomological investigations have been carried out, the results of which have been reported in the medical Press. Many new species of sand¬ flies were discovered. Two new species considered to be the most likely to act as vectors have been named P. garnhami and P. van somereni. Further research showed that the latter species is the most likely to be the true vector of the human disease. This species appears and is prevalent for very short periods and breeds in ant hills. It is only to be caught at certain times of the year, strictly related to the onset of the rains, which may account for the cyclical incidence of kala azar in the human population. Leprosy Slow progress has been made in the building of the Leprosarium at Itesio by reason of material shortages, staff shortages and the isolation of the site. Medical work at the partially built Leprosarium has, however, been heavy and there are more than 3,000 out-patients registered at the Institute. At the same time, more than 150 in-patients were housed in temporary dwellings on the site of the new Leprosarium. Good work is obviously being done as the Medical Officer in charge reports that fewer cases are now being seen who live close to Itesio. It will be necessary later to institute a series of satellite dispensaries in order that more distant cases can be more conveniently treated. The High Commission, through the East African Committee of Medical Research and with the assistance of B.E.L.R.A., have started to build a small leprosy research station at Itesio, in conjunction with the Leprosarium. Progress on these buildings is also being held up for the same reasons that have led to delay in the main project. Medical officers are now sending in encouraging reports on the value of sulphones in the treatment of leprosy. When this drug first came out all medical officers were encouraged to set up special leprosy clinics in their districts. Now, as the result of three years’ experience, it is confidently expected that the prevalence of leprosy will be considerably modified by the use of sulphones. The one bar to complete control is the difficulty in maintaining contact with the patient for a sufficiently long time to ensure that cure is certain. The way that this can best be achieved will be through the services of African auxiliary medical personnel who are employees of African District Councils. The Medical Depart¬ ment is doing all it can to encourage an increased establishment of this class of person by financial assistance where possible and the provision of fuller train¬ ing facilities. PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION General and Staff There has been no alteration in the long experienced staff shortage, especially of European Health Inspectors. Further commitments made extra calls on their services as Emergency developments took place in the Central Province, particularly in connexion with the programme for the building of villages. In addition, many works camps have been built in the Central Province and there have been extra calls from the new County Councils for secondment of our European staff to their services.