Annual report of the Medical Department / Tanganyika Territory.

  • Tanganyika. Medical Department
Date:
[1952]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Department / Tanganyika Territory. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    46/86 page 38
    PART IV._ANCILLARY AND RELATED SERVICES XVI.—LABORATORY SERVICES 212. The Annual Report by the Senior Pathologist on the territorial laboratory services, is published separately. The following is, therefore, a brief summary of the activities of the laboratory services; for details, reference should be made to the full report. 213. The laboratory services of the Department are based on the Central Laboratory in Dar es Salaam. In 1952 the Senior Pathologist had the assist¬ ance of a pathologist and three laboratory superintendents, together with a number of African laboratory assistants. 214. The main functions of the Central Laboratory are:— (i) Training of laboratory assistant students, together with the organization of refresher courses for laboratory assistants. (ii) Diagnostic pathology in both the clinical and epidemiological fields. (iii) Research into local problems related to diagnostic pathology. 215. The Central Laboratory is the only one in which a complete range of pathological investigations can be made, although smaller laboratories in the charge of African laboratory assistants are maintained at eight of the largest centres in the Territory, where the more important investigations in current use can be carried out. The Central Laboratory is also responsible for the storage and distribution of vaccines and sera. 216. The Senior Pathologist expresses doubt as to the clinical significance to be attached to the high prevailing incidence of certain parasitic infections among the indigenous African population—of which the helminthiases and malaria are notable examples—and there is an increasing tendency for the mere presence of a parasitic infection, without apparent ill effect, to be treated as of secondary importance in assessing the significance of morbid processes. Instead, the aid of clinical pathology is being sought increasingly to determine pathological and deficiency states from which the patient is actually suffering and which are often overlooked by giving undue attention to the presence of a relatively benign parasitic infection. (See also para. 83). 217. During the year the buildings of the headquarters laboratory were completely overhauled and refurbished. XVII.—MEDICAL TRAINING The Tanganyika Medical Training Board 218. Prominent in recent development in the field of medical training is the new Tanganyika Medical Training Board. Although appointed in November 1951, it began its activities in 1952 during which five meetings were held. Syllabi and regulations for the training of medical assistants, laboratory assistants, pharmaceutical assistants and rural medical aids were drawn up and approved and the procedure laid down for the conduct of territorial examinations. Panels of examiners were appointed and final examinations for government and mission candidates were held in December under its auspices for medical and medical ancillary assistants and rural medical aids.
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