Annual report of the Medical Department / Federated Malay States.

  • Federated Malay States. Medical Department.
Date:
[1923]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Department / Federated Malay States. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/58 (page 12)
    V.— HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES. 67. Out-patients.—The number of out-patients treated by all hospitals, dispensaries and travelling dispensaries for 1923 433,111 in 1922, distributed as follows: was 527,414 as compared with • States. 1922. 1923. Perak 150,157 190,990 Selangor 128,806 159,403 Negri Sembilan 81,711 92,692 Pahang 72,437 84,329 Total ... 433,111 527,414 The increase in the number of out-patients is probablv due to the restarting of the travelling dispensaries towards the end of the year 1922. These travelling dispensaries get in touch with the villages, in outlying districts whose inhabitants would not in the ordinary course of events take the trouble to come long distances to the district hospitals. They are very useful in dealing with the yaws campaign and in the inspection of outlying schools. They are quite our most useful service out of doors. INFANT WELFARE WORK. 68. Infant Welfare work is carried out at the Town Dispensaries in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Taiping, but the attendances of women and children at these dispensaries are increasing so very rapidly that the question of providing separate accommodation for Infant Welfare work is becoming very urgent. In Kuala Lumpur it is intended to move the Town Dispensary work to another building and increase the present Town Dispensary and use it entirely as an Infant Welfare Centre. 69. Kuala Lumpur.—The number of attendances during 1923 were women 3,559, children (from one to five years) 2,872, and infants (under one year of age) 5,777, a. total of 12,008 as against 4,075 in 1922. The number of visits paid by Health Visitors during the year was 6,549. 70. Taiping.—The Medical Officer reports that it is a great uphill fight against the ignorance and superstition of the poor Chinese, Tamils and Malays. From notification of birth all new-born babies are visited at once. Some of the parents appreciate this attention and attempt to follow the advice given and la-ter come up to the centre. The majority however pay little attention and a few absolutely refuse to see the Sister or Nurse. The centre, however, has done valuable work and is gradually being appreciated. At the end of the year there were over 200 infants on the books and the majority of these are brought to the centre at least once a month. The total attendances were 4,440 as against 743 in 1922. 71. Ipoh .—This centre has been considerably handicapped by having no Nursing Sister, consequently it has been carried on with difficulty more especially in the absence of a. Lady Medical Officer during the latter half of the year. The total number of attendants was 7,086 as against 1,793 in 1922. VI.—PRISONS. 72. During 1923, the general health of the prisoners and the sanitation have been satisfactory. The chief diseases prevalent were malaria, dysentery, diarrhoea and anky lostom i asis. The total number treated during the year in the different gaol hospitals was 1,280! with 32 deaths, and a death-rate of 2.5 as against 1,736 with 27 deaths, and a death-rate of 1.67 for 1922, distributed as follows : Place. 1922. 1923. Cases. Deaths. Per¬ centage. Cases. Deaths. Per¬ centage. Pudu Gaol, Kuala Lumpur 421 5 ] .18 316 6 1.89 Gaol, Taiping 604 17 2.81 465 17 3.65 „ Batu Gajah 348 3 .08 188 6 3.19 „ Papan 65 2 3.06 11 • • a ... „ Seremban ... 240 2 .82 258 2 0.77 „ Kuala Lipis 15 • • • 17 1 5.88 ,, Kuantan ... 43 ... 25 Total ... 1,736 29 1.67 1,280 32 2.5