Annual medical and sanitary report / Bechuanaland Protectorate.

  • Bechuanaland Protectorate. Office of the Director of Medical Services.
Date:
[1938]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    14/64 (page 10)
    822 Cases were reported during the year, 14. MALARIA: a decrease of 571 over last year. As this disease is « dependant largely on the amount and distribution of the rainfall in the Territory, it is not surprising that the incidence has been lower this year,but with the excessive rains towards the latter part of the year and prospects of more in the coming year there is every possibility of this disease assuming local epidemic proportions in 1939- 15* EILHARZIA: It is a matter for regret that the optimistic view taken in the 1937 report must be revised. The number of cases reported this year is 265 as against • 31 in 1937* All except one were in the Bakhatla Reserve. It is well known that the Notoane RiTTer, a tributary of the Limpopo, and the Limpopo itself are infected. The Missionary doctor at Mochudi started a routine examination of the school children, with the result that 84i* out of 5QC children examined were found to be suffering from the disease, but unfortunately he was transferred to another station before the completion of his investigations. In view of the figures given above, the necessity of a survey at some future date must be borne in mind. The Protectorate is fortunate in that this reserve is the only one infected at present. Sporadic cases have occurred in neighbouring reserves but in most instances infection could be traced to the Bakhatla Reserve. 16. MEASLES: Thirty cases were seen during the year, but the Missionary at Ramoutsa reported a large number who were attended by the Welfare Nurse attached to the Mission. 17» WHOOPING COUGH: This disease accounted for 149 cases, a decrease of 295 on the figures for last year.