Report on the public health / Southern Rhodesia.

  • Southern Rhodesia. Department of Health.
Date:
[1935]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the public health / Southern Rhodesia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/42 (page 12)
    disease per thousand per annum rose from 9.29 to 11.32. During the year the mining regulations were revised and amongst other changes an extra half-pound of meat per week per native was added to the minimum diet scale. The high death rate from influenza and pneumonia this year shows how necessary it is that the ideas of the mining public in regard to the feeding of native mine workers should be revised and a higher standard demanded. In addition, outbreaks of scurvy occurred in many areas amongst mine natives in the country during the months of October, November and December. This was due to the lack of rain during those months and the resultant inability to obtain supplies of fresh vegetables. Due, however, to the enter¬ prise of a local Citrus Products Company a concentrated form of citrus juice is now available and has already been used with marked effect in many parts of the country where the condition of the natives from scurvy was causing anxiety. It is hoped that next year an attempt will be made to ensure that wherever fresh vegetables are unobtainable, supplies of this concentrated citrus juice will be introduced into the diet of the natives at an earlier period of the year, before the danger from scurvy arises. Accidents.—The death rate from accidents is practically stationary, having been for many years a little above the figure of two per thousand. Every such death is carefully enquired into and it is probable that this rate is as low as can be anticipated in an occupation which contains unavoidable risks. The accident death rate for the Transvaal is about the same. A senior officer of the Native Department is seconded for service on the staff of the Public Health Department and devotes the whole of his time to supervising health conditions of native mine employees. The beneficial results of supervision by a skilled officer, who is in an entirely independent position, cannot be over-estimated. (a) Natives on Mines : Comparative Statement of Mortality, 1931-1935. Twelve Months ended November 1931. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. Average number employed 35,790 35,466 47,080 61,101 74,752 Disease— Number of deaths . 477 341 438 573 846 Death rate per mille per annum. 13.33 9.61 9.30 9.38 11.32 Accidents— Number of deaths . 87 89 103 140 193 Death rate per mille per annum . 2.43 2.51 2.19 2.29 2.58 All Causes— Number of deaths . 564 430 541 713 1,039 Death rate per mille per annum . 15.76 12.12 11.49 11.67 13.90 (b) Natives on Mines : Rates of Deaths from Disease. Death Rate per 1,000 Employed. Twelve Months ended November 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 Pneumonia . 6.40 4.88 4.16 4.21 5.43 Other Diseases . 6.93 4.73 5.14 5.17 5.89 Total disease death rate . 13.33 9.61 9.30 9.38 11.32