Annual medical and sanitary report / Nigeria.

  • Nigeria. Medical Department
Date:
[1918]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    112/172 page 110
    ALLEGED INCREASE OF PHTHISIS IN LAGOS TOWN. In accordance with the instructions of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services a meeting was held at the Sanitary Office at 11 a.m. on the 24th January, 1918, to discuss the alleged increase of Tuberculosis in Lagos Town. * * * 12. The following means of controlling the spread of Tuoerculosis were discussed and recommendations made as set out; these being additional to taking action under the Public Health Ordinance section 7 subs 2 and 11 and Regulation No. 49 as recommended by the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services. I. Isolation.—Quite impracticable at present. Dr. Sapara mentioned cases of Government officials who had been much improved or cured by being sent to Offa and other more northerly stations. II. Notification.—It was recommended that all forms of tuber¬ culosis should be notified. The Medical Officer of Health would keep a “ spot map ” of all cases. III. Microscopic Examination..—It was recommended that sputum and other suspected discharges should be examined free of charge for all private practitioners. IY. Education.—It was recommended that leaflets in English and Yoruba should be available for use by doctors, inspectors and others giving in simple language directions for preventing the spread of the disease, its nature and cause. Y. Health Visitors.—It was recommended that the experiment 'be made of appointing a woman Sanitary Inspector whose sole duty it shall be to visit houses in which there are cases of tuberculosis and to give advice but not to prosecute. It was pointed out that such a woman must be carefully chosen: perhaps one who had been a Nurse: she must have reached the age of discretion but not be so old as to be easily fatigued : she must be a woman of some education intelligent, of good character, sympathetic and tactful. It was pointed out that such women had been employed on the Gold Coast and in Dr. Beringer’s experience with much promise of good. Yl. The Housing Problem.—It is unquestionable that there is not enough suitable accommodation for the native population of Lagos and that so long as the Housing problem is not properly dealt with so long will the conditions which favour the spread of tuberculosis persist. Recommendations made were:— (a) That Lagos is no longer a suitable place for the man who wants to build his own house himself in more or less his own way. Such a man should either go or pay rent for properly built lodgings. (b) That the question of building tenement houses be considered. (c) That the lay out of new townships in the neighbourhood be considered. LEAFLET ON TUBERCULOSIS. Phthisis or Tuberculosis of the lungs is a disease which causes many deaths, and which readily spreads from the diseased to the healthy. It is commonly known as Consumption and it may prove rapidly fatal, or it may last a long time.
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