Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health / Nairobi Municipality.

  • Nairobi (Kenya). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1939]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health / Nairobi Municipality. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/56 (page 4)
    A total of 77,737 animals were slaughtered at the Abattoir compared with 62,914 last year, an, increase of 14,823 animals. The volume of work has now reached the extent that present accommoda¬ tion is not sufficient and a scheme for extension is being prepared. The condemnation rate for oxen for all causes was less than last year, 16.2% against 18.5%. The measles rate was also lower, being 14.2% com¬ pared with 16.7%. 28% more goats and 25% more pigs were slaughtered than in 1938; there was also an increase in the number of sheep killed. A report on Child Welfare services is included in this report. It will be noted that attendances at the Infant Clinics increased to 40,734 and those at the Ante-Natal Clinics increased to 6,196. Home visits reached a total of 19,480, being an increase of 2,267, but attendances at the Venereal Clinics and Dispensaries showed a decrease accounted for by the movements of Africans, due to war disturbance. There was no alteration in the personnel of the Public Health Department during the year. The post of Chief Sanitary Inspector still has not been filled in spite of it being vacant since 1931. The annual expenditure of the Public Health Department during 1939 amounted to £12,570 compared with £10,883 in 1938. 2. GEOGRAPHICAL. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is situated in the highlands about 250 miles from the coast and is 330 miles by rail from the port of Mombasa, and 257 miles by rail from Kisumu on Lake Victoria. The geographical position is:—* Latitude: 1° 16' 43 South. Longitude: 36° 50' East. Height above sea level: From 5,452 feet to 5,700 feet. Area of Municipality: 20,544 acres or 32.1 square miles. 3. METEOROLOGICAL. The following meteorological observations were made by the British East African Meteorological Service. The observations regarding pressure were taken at Kabete Observatory at 5,987 feet, and those relating to temperature and humidity were taken near the Railway Offices at 5,495 feet above sea level. Month. Atmospheric pressure corrected. Relative humidity. Temperai Min. Max. Mean max. U xv JL. Mean min. Mean. ins. % °F. °F. °F. °F. °F. January 24.204 58 84.1 79.1 50.2 55.7 67.4 February 24.182 54 85.9 82.9 51.0 56.8 69.9 March ... 24.165 60 86.1 83.1 52.7 58.3 70.7 April 24.216 71 83.0 78.2 55.4 59.3 68.7 May 24.245 71 79.1 75.7 50.0 57.9 66.8 June 24.272 66 79.2 74.0 49.9 55.1 64.5 July 24.263 66 81.8 75.2 44.1 53.6 64.4 August 24.273 68 83.0 75.1 47.0 54.3 64.7 September 24.257 57 85.7 80.1 48.0 54.9 67.5 October 24.233 55 84.2 81.1 50.0 56.7 68.9 N ovember 24.237 61 83.3 79.4 53.1 59.5 69.5 December ... 24.262 57 85.8 81.2 53.9 58.3 69.7 Year 24.234 62 86.1 78.8 44.1 56.7 67.7