Annual medical report / Colony and Protectorate of Kenya.

  • Kenya. Medical Department.
Date:
[1949]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    22/94 (page 16)
    (2) Schools Hygiene Apart from the work of the Schools’ Medical Officer in and around Nairobi, and which is fully reported elsewhere in this report, schools hygiene was dealt with by District Medical Officers of Health and Health Inspectors in so far as it was possible to spare the time from their normal routine duties. In rural areas African personnel struggled valiantly to improve the generally low hygienic conditions. Many drawings for new schools for all races were scrutinized and at all times it was endeavoured to ensure the introduction of the recognized standards of accommodation for all purposes, as accepted by the Education, the Public Works and the Medical Departments. The economic factor could not always be ignored, but, in general, standards were main¬ tained, although drainage and the disposal of sewage and waste water are matters that still call for much more consideration. (3) Labour Conditions Close liaison continued between officers of the Labour and Medical Departments, and proposed legislation for the control of sanitary conditions at labour camps and to govern conditions in factories and workshops was dealt with in detail. (4) Housing and Town Planning From all urban areas Medical Officers of Health lay stress upon the need for more and more houses for all races. Private enterprise, the Municipal Council of Nairobi and Government have made head¬ way, and although accommodation for Europeans improved to a degree all efforts to meet the needs of the relatively greater Asian and African populations have had little effect in solving the problem. For the Asian population plots for residential purposes were allocated in many areas and the needs of the African were perpetually under review. Plans for the development of municipalities and townships were prepared by the Town Planning Adviser and approved by the various departments interested, but not without some concern. The provision of roads, drains and conservancy services seldom keep pace with general development, with the inevitable public health problems in consequence. Government’s acceptance of the proposals for the establishment of a drainage and sewage section of the Public Works Department was received with satisfaction and an ultimate improvement in the sanitary conditions of the Colony must be the result. Many problems at schools and hospitals of recent construction, and in built-up areas, await the attention of the drainage and sewage engineer. (5) Food in Relation to Health and Disease A—Food Supplies In some areas the rainfall was below normal, with disappointing crops in consequence, but, throughout the Colony, food supplies in general were not unsatisfactory. Insect infestation of grain stored in bulk presented a problem and a Pest Control Com¬ mittee was set up to give consideration as to the use of approved insecticides. This has been necessary as grain silos are virtually absent in the Colony; storage of hundreds of thousands of grain products in bags has perforce to be done in open warehouses. The insect depredations, besides causing a direct loss of foodstuffs of anything up to 10 per cent or more, account for an immense spoilage which renders the food unpalatable, if not occasion¬ ally unwholesome. The advent of cheap chemical insecticides has not solved the problem as their chronic toxicity is still an unknown factor. It has been thought better not to allow their use for the time being, but to depend on heat for grain conditioning and disinfestation. If an insecticide is still necessary, it was deemed that pyrethrum in minimal adequate quantities should be allowed to be added to grain. Food inspection was maintained in so far as the availability of staff permitted, and although the difficulties of control are great, especially in rural areas, an expansion of activity took place. With the more plentiful supply of imported canned foodstuffs a certain amount of hoarded stocks appeared in shops and condemnations were necessary. B—Markets, Dairies and Slaughterhouses Progress in the improvement of markets has been recorded in both urban and rural areas, varying from major additions in permanent materials in the larger to minor matters such as fencing, shelters and benching in the smaller. Many local authorities gave con¬ sideration to the establishment of markets where at present none exist.