Report on the public health / Southern Rhodesia.

  • Southern Rhodesia. Department of Health.
Date:
[1931]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the public health / Southern Rhodesia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/36 (page 18)
    (5) Native Labour on Mines and Works. The number of natives employed on mines and works was 34,988, being 10,354 less than the previous year. Pneumonia continues to be the most serious problem, being- responsible for 209 or nearly half of the 443 deaths which occurred from disease. There were 87 fatal accidents. A number of warnings had to be issued in cases where the minimum ration laid down by law was not being supplied. In some of these, scurvy had supervened as a result. Non-payment of wages, wrongful contracting and insufficient accommodation were other defects. Only one compound inspector was employed during the year, and the officers of the Native Department assisted in compound supervision in consequence. The following tables give details in regard to sickness and mortality among natives employed on mines. Table I.—Natives on Mines. Cases of Sickness, Deaths and Death Rates, 1931. Disease. Total sick. Total deaths. Death rate per mille per annum. Malaria. 2,129 19 0.54 Scurvy . 94 6 0.17 Syphilis. 594 10 0.28 Pneumonia. 1,076 210 5.97 Phthisis. 46 36 1.02 Other diseases of the chest . 1,328 13 0.37 Dysentery . 91 5 0.14 Diarrhoea. 246 1 0.03 Other intestinal diseases. 99 12 0.34 Heart disease . 23 16 0.46 Debility. 156 17 0.48 Influenza . 3,0h9 24 0.68 Other diseases. 1,783 75 2.13 Minor ailments . 8,882 ... ... Total. 19,606 444 12.61 Accidents and Injuries— Major. 269 87 2.47 Minor . .. 8,201 ... ... Total. 28,076 531 15.08 Table II.—Natives on Mines. Comparative Statement of Mortality since 1926. 1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. Average number em¬ ployed . 42,047 42,046 43,703 46,981 45,342 35,202 Disease— Number of deaths 598 595 756 876 687 444 Death rate per mille per annum . 14.22 14.15 17.30 18.65 15.15 12.61 Accident— Number of deaths 91 94 94 110 98 87 Death rate per mille per annum . 2.16 2.24 2.15 2.34 2.16 2.47 All causes— Number of deaths 689 689 850 986 785 531 Death rate per mille per annum . 16.38 16.39 19.45 20.99 17.31 15.08