Annual medical and sanitary report / Bechuanaland Protectorate.

  • Bechuanaland Protectorate. Office of the Director of Medical Services
Date:
[1955]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

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    181. The sister-in-charge, Maun Maternity Centre, had her first year’s full working. 182. The medical missionary, Molepolole, reports 331 babies born in hospital during the year and 993 new patients seeking ante-natal advice. Out¬ patients numbering 29,698 were attended to. 183. The government medical officer, Maun, records that 1,524 yellow fever inoculations were given to mine recruits at Shakawe and a further 650 to recruits at Maun in terms of the agreement with the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association. A further 175 were given to residents in the district. The medical officer flies to Shakawe once weekly to examine recruits and perform the inoculations and takes the opportunity of conducting a clinic at the same time. A storm caused considerable damage to the dispensary at Tsau and Nokaneng. Owing to flood conditions it became impossible for Rakops dispensary to be visited from Maun. There are four African dispensers or health assistants in charge of various units in this district and the medical officer tries to visit them as often as possible. In December an outbreak of smallpox near Runtu in the Caprivi Strip stopped all recruiting from Angola. The school-children at the Maun European school were medically examined during the year. 184. The government medical officer, Serowe, states that with accommo¬ dation for 111 adults, children and infants, 2,497 persons were treated in hos¬ pital. Forty-seven thousand, six hundred and fifty-six out-patient attendances were recorded, an average of 130 persons for every day of the year. Six hundred and seventy-two babies were born in hospital and 871 ante-natal patients attending for the first time subsequently made a further 6,633 visits. Of the 672 babies born, 75 had some complication of delivery and a further 84 were premature. Three hundred and forty ante-natal first attendances showed a positive Wasserman reaction, i.e. 39% of the total first attendances, a figure similar to that reported by other observers in this distrct. The treponematosis mass inoculation campaign reached this reserve at the end of the year under review. 185. The government medical officer, Mahalapye, reports that gynaecolo¬ gical conditions constituted more than 10% of the total number of first atten¬ dances; simple disorders of the bowel a further 10%; but by contrast the deficiency diseases accounted for less than 1 % of the total. Considerable improvements were effected to this unit and the number of in-patient beds increased from eight to twelve. At Dikgatlong an African has built a very creditable room, at his own expense, to encourage the medical officer to conduct a regular clinic there. He has also furnished it with chairs, wash-stand, curtains and a screen. A new hut has also been provided by the tribe at Mokane. The ambulance had covered 45,000 miles of very rough travelling by the end of the year. 186. The government medical officer, Francistown, states that anti-smallpox vaccination campaigns were conducted as a precautionary measure. The nursing staff position was most unstable, nine locum nursing sisters being employed at various times. The hospital and out-buildings were renovated and a new dressing-room was built. 187. The government medical officer, Gaberones, is away from his own headquarters in the district for more than half the time. Regular courses of lectures on “First Aid to the Injured” were given to police recruits at the depot. An outbreak of measles from Gabane was notable for the large number of children developing broncho-pneumonia as a complication. 188. The medical missionary, Kanye Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, reports that at last the hospital is now ensured of a regular, adequate and
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