Annual report on the medical services / Sierra Leone.

  • Sierra Leone. Medical Department.
Date:
[1944]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the medical services / Sierra Leone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/14 (page 3)
    . > MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE The following statistical summary compares 1943 with the year under review :— Ante-Natal Clinic New cases 1,647. 2,050 Subsequent attendances ... 9.917 10,386 Home visits 3.443 3,632 Post-Natal Clinic New cases 825 894 Subsequent attendances ... 958 1,046 Infant Welfare Clinic New cases 837 1,244 Subsequent attendances ... 15.776 15,811 Home visits 10,042 16,781 III—COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Malaria.—16,763 cases were treated in hospitals and dispensaries in the Colony and Protectorate. The temporary control measures in Freetown have been reasonably successful and there has been a marked fall in the incidence of malaria in the Services. The reduction has amounted to approximately 60 per cent of the 1943 figures. In addition, there has been a marked reduction in the incidence of malaria in infants and school children. During the months of June, July, August and September, the reduction in infant mortality was 30 per cent of the mean of the previous seven years and this reduction may be largely attributed to a lowered transmission of malaria. It has been noted that pregnant women show a marked decrease in their resistance to malaria parasite infestation and the parasite rate in these women is about three to four times, the normal adult rate. The attendances at the Connaught Hospital^ for treatment for malaria were more fhan double those for 1943. It is uncertain how much of this increase was due to propaganda and how much a true rise in the incidence or severity of adult malaria due to progressive loss of immunity. . v The staff of the Malaria Control Unit has greatly improved in efficiency and this improvement has resulted in a considerable reduction in the numbers of Anopheline mosquitoes invading houses. The reduction has been most marked in the Kiss}^ area where it amounted to 95 per cent. The average Anopheline density per room was as follows :— 1943 1944 F reetown • ♦ • • • • 0-26 0.15 Kissy • • • • • • 2*13 0*08