Report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals / [Ceylon].

Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.

Date:: [1921]

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals / [Ceylon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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No. of Persons. 126,529 84,617 favourably with the amount accomplished in previous years on estates, except in 1920, when the staff used was considerably augmented over that of previous years and over that of this year. The number of person* treated by campaigns by years are as follows :— Year. No. of Persons. Year. 1916-1917 .. 42,427 1920.. 1918.. .. 50,374 1921.. 1919 .. .. 88,602 Average number of persons treated per year, 65,425. The number of persons treated and the number of treatments given by all agencies during 1921 are shown in the following table :— , Number treated. Total Treatments given. Villages and schools campaigns .. .. 81,946 .. 185,098 Jails campaigns .. .. .. 2,671 .. 5,033 Estates .. .. . . 7,308 . . — Government hospitals and dispensaries .. 25,284 .. 47,161 Total The figures of the work by areas are as follows :— Districts. Henaratgoda Minuwangoda-Veyangoda Kalutara Panadure Jails Total 117,209 Number treated 26,806 24,654 20,670 9,816 2,671 237,292 Total Treatments given. 63,285 54,171 47,764 19,878 5,033 84,617 190,131 lit r a %, •*. & Personnel.—Only a few changes were made in the personnel during the year : Dr. J. B. Flamer Caldera directed the work in the Henaratgoda area, Dr. T. K. Jayaram directed the work in the Panadure area and in the jails, Dr. G. G. Hampton directed the work in the Minuwangoda-Veyangoda area. He succeeded Dr. S. A. Winsor when the latter went on leave in March. Dr. Hampton had previously taken over the work directed by Dr. Yeager in 1920. In November Dr. C. N. Leach, a Director from the United States, arrived in Ceylon en route to the Philippines, and he directed the work at the Kandy jail. While the best results were not obtained from the campaigns, due to a lack of sanitation in the districts selected, with consequent re-infection, yet the campaigns have been of material advantage in stimulating thought and action in public health matters. For example : (a) The greatest stimulus to latrine construction, directly and indirectly, has been in association with campaign areas. (b) Valuable educational work has been done, by means of lectures, demonstrations, and treatments, to villages and to schools. (c) A considerable reduction in the mass of infection has resulted from the very large number of treat¬ ments given since 1917 (over 800,000). (d) Many people have been relieved of all symptoms. (e) Many have been cured who would have died ii treatment had not been given. Methods of reaching the People.—It was learned in the preliminary work of 1920 that the people could be reached most successfully through the headmen and through the schools. Headmen.—The assistance of the headmen was enlisted through the Government Agent, who by means of circular letters, personal visits, and lectures instructed them to co-operate. The headman’s influence in the village is great, and the amount of co-operation obtained from the people is in direct proportion to the interest taken by the headmen. A large majority of them did excellent work, and were properly rewarded therefor. At the suggestion of the Government Agent, and with the co-operation of the Government Printer, a certificate of merit was prepared to be given to those headmen who persuaded 90 per cent, of their people to be treated. This certificate has proven of much value, and is greatly admired and desired by headmen. The holding of the certificate brings forward also a strong claim for the monetary reward which Government has promised the headmen who are most successful in this work. Many certificates have already been awarded. Schools.—In enlisting the help of Government schools, the schoolmasters were circularized by the Director of Education ; in getting the co-operation of the private and semi-private schools, help was had from the various managers of these institutions. These officials pointed out in their circulars the advantages of treatment, and advised the teachers to be treated themselves and get their pupils treated. With very few exceptions, the schools have responded satisfactorily in every way. In addition to the above agencies, the general public was brought to learn about the disease and about the campaign in other ways. In August a flcral pageant was held at Henaratgoda. The Field Director took advantage of this occasion, and not only decorated his office, but added signs and posters to attract people to the office. An attempt was made to tabulate the number of those visiting the office to see pictures and parasites and to have the work explained, but the crowds became so large that it was not possible to do so. The Field Director estimated that at least a thousand people came to his office during the day. The same sort of educational work was done in the Pasdun korale. An agri-horticultural show was held on June 26. The Director in the Kalutara District arranged a special dispensary display at this show. Large crowds of villagers and estate labourers visited the dispensary, and afterwards larger numbers came to the dispensary which was located in that section and were treated. The vedarala is very influential in the village community. He did not co-operate at first. Late in the year, however, his aid was enlisted by allowing him to prescribe for and treat patients from his villages under the supervision of the Field Director. As a result of this procedure active opposition from most of the vedaralas ceased. In order to make the dispensaries attractive to visitors, interesting features of the work were brought to their attention. Parasites of various kinds, in addition to hookworms, were collected, properly labelled, and displayed. Pictures of school groups and village groups of infected cases and of cured cases occurring in the immediate neighbourhood were mounted, labelled, and exhibited for the information of the public. In addition, the medicine used was shown, the eggs and larvae were demonstrated under the microscope. All of the factors helped to break down the prejudice which exists here as it does in other countries. Treatment Methods.—Treatment methods used during 1921 did not differ from those of previous years, except in the dosage prescribed, which was reduced for campaign reasons. This reduction was due to the fact that in village work supervision could not be so well maintained, as patients went to their homes after taking