Report on the medical and health services / The Gambia.

  • Gambia. Medical Department.
Date:
[1954]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the medical and health services / The Gambia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/30 (page 9)
    The following is a summary of the work done in the Victoria Hospital Labo¬ ratory during 1954:— Blood Films. 10,603 Blood Counts . 513 Kahn Tests . 2605 Blood Sedimentation Rates 151 Urine examinations. 7,509 Faecal examinations 2,168 Gland Punctures ... ... ... ... ... ... 186 Urethral and Vaginal Smears . 1,771 Cerebro-Spinal Fluid Examinatons ... ... ... 11 Other Bio-chemical Tests ... ... ... ... ... 28 Sputum examinations ... ... ... ... ... 243 Skin-scrapings and nasal smears ... ... ... ... 368 Other Miscellaneous examinations 11 D. DENTAL SERVICES. During the whole of 1954 the Gambia was without a Dental Surgeon held on its establishment. As has been previously stated, Major Gollan, Dental Surgeon, Sierra Leone was seconded from there to wo’*k here for a short period. The vacancy, however, is now in process of being filled, and there is every hope that there will be a Government Dentist on duty here during most of 1955. E. GENERAL REMARKS. Health of Expatriates. (Europeans, Lebanese and Syrians). There were 54 admissions as in-patients, with an average stay in Hospital of less than 8 days. 305 out-patients were attended. There were no deaths in hospital. Infections of skin and sub-cutaneous tissues, acute upper respiratory infections, digestive disorders and malaria were again the commonest causes for seeking medical advice. Health of Africans. Disorders of the digestive tract were again collectively the commonest cause for seeking attention, and 30,252 cases are recorded. This figure includes 13,056 cases of simple constipation which accounts for a large propor¬ tion of attendances at Outpatient Dispensaries. Diseases of the respiratory tract numbered 18,805. The total number of cases of malaria was 22,018 with a total of 19 deaths. It must be emphasised, however, that the great majority of these cases were diagnosed only clinically, and 13,469 of them were reported from Dispensaries. The number of cases of “rheumatism” treated was 9,010. F. EPIDEMIC AND ENDEMIC DISEASES. (1) Smallpox. During the year 107 cases of smallpox were reported, with only 1 death reported. The great majority of cases detected were in French subjects who entered the Gambia from neighbouring French territory. Prompt measures were taken by Health Inspectors on discovery of cases, when vaccination of all contacts, and isolation of patients was carried out. Routine vaccinations continued to be done by Health Inspectors. (2) Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis. During the year 80 cases with 16 deaths were notified. All except one of these occurred in the Protectorate, this single case occurred in Bathurst. Prompt measures were taken in this latter case, and fortunately no other cases occurred.