Medical report / British Honduras.

  • British Honduras. Medical Department.
Date:
[1952]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Medical report / British Honduras. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Comparative death rates for the period 1940-52 are as shown below: Years Total Deaths Death rate per 100,000 of population 1940 .. 34 57 1941 .. 38 62 1942 .. 31 50 1943 .. 44 70 1944 .. 29 46 1945 .. 37 ;. 58 1946 .. 42 70 1947 .. 32 52 1948 .. 45 71 1949 .. 33 50 1950 .. 34 50 1951 .. 37 53 1952 .. 35 48 As approximately two-thirds of the cases come from Belize, it is considered that poor hous¬ ing conditions in Belize are a main contributing factor. In August, Dr. J. L. Bonilla visited the Colony to advise on the possibility of carrying out a BCG Vaccination Programme. Dr. Bonilla considered that such a programme was indicated in the colony, but in view of the colony’s limited financial ability to undertake this programme, advised that it be carried out as a long term project. The three main requirements are (i) Training of personnel (ii) provision of laboratory facilities for culturing tuberculous materials, and (iii) provision of a mass radiography unit to be attached to our X-ray equipment. With regard to training of personnel—application has been made through UNICEF to World Health Organization for scholarships for (i) a doctor, (ii) a laboratory technician and (iii) a public health nurse. Dr. Bonilla interviewed a laboratory technician and a nurse in August and considered them suitable for training. With regard to laboratory facilities—an extension of the present laboratory is required. It now appears that funds for this extension will be found locally, either from government or through the agencies of the Red Cross Society. With regard to the mass radiography unit—application has been made to UNICEF. If this should fail, it is possible that funds will be found locally by the Red Cross Society. Government is giving support to the programme. It is hoped to start work on this programme some time in 1953, but the date of commencement depends on the resolution of the factors mentioned above. Yellow Fever. The latest outbreak of Yellow Fever in this colony was in 1921. The vector, Aedes Aegypti is still here (Belize and Corozal) though the latest reports indicate that the Insect Control Programme has been successful in eradicating it in Corozal. It is still present in Belize (though in limited numbers and only in certain areas of the town) but it is hoped to reduce it to vanishing point in 1953. Meantime, alarming reports have been received from Pan American Sanitary Bureau of the spread of Yellow Fever through Costa Rica to Nicaragua. The Pan American Sanitary Bureau authorities state that the disease is moving northward at the rate of thirteen miles per month, and that at the present rate of progress it will reach the north coast of Honduras in July, 1953. As this colony is in sea communication with the north coast of Honduras, the transmission of the disease to Belize would then become a relatively simple matter. For this reason intensive efforts are being undertaken to achieve eradication of the vector \edes Aegypti before the middle of the year. The Pan American Sanitary Bureau authorities are anxious for us to undertake inoculation of all rural inhabitants of the colony. Figures have been submitted to them. Mean¬ time, government employees who work in monkey-inhabited forests are being offered inocula¬ tion with Yellow Fever vaccines. Venereal Disease: There were 4,322 attendances at the venereal disease clinics as against 4,487 in the previous year. 16 cases were congential syphillis, 133 cases of acquired syphillis, and 380 cases of gonorrhea were notified in 1952. A much larger field is now being explored owing to the acquisition of public health nurses. Contacts of cases are being followed up and treated when found positive.