Annual report on the Medical Department / Straits Settlements.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1933]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Medical Department / Straits Settlements. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    37/134 (page 15)
    The seriousness of the malaria problem throughout the hilly districts of the Northern Settlement is due to the widespread distribution of breeding places for Anopheles maculatus. Measures are directed against the larval stage of the mosquito, this work is associated also with general sanitary measures and, in some selected areas, with drug prophylaxis. There is also free distribution of quinine. Anti-larval opera¬ tions extend to within a distance of half a mile of the outskirts of malarial villages. The practice of anti-larval control consists of applying larvicide (anti-malarial oils or Paris Green) to all the breeding places of dangerous mosquitoes within the protection zone; permanent protection works such as drainage and earth filling are then taken in hand so as to replace by gradual degrees anti-malaria measures which are lacking in permanence and reliability. In the Dindings permanent anti-malarial works have been extended around Tumut, where malaria is now under complete control and further extensions of protection zones have taken place around the villages of Damar Taut and Segari. The following table gives a resume of works done : — Notices served Feet of sub-soil drains relaid Feet of open masonry drains con¬ structed or repaired Feet of earth drains dug and graded Anti¬ malaria wells con¬ structed Cubic yards of earth filling Gallons of oil used Mosquito larvas examined Penang Province 38 15,471 2,266 20,274 16 9,150 49,362 47,407 Wellesley 11 1,515 168 14,176 6 320 27,566 19,597 Dindings .. 14 1,346 2,234 1,095 1 533 7,152 1,560 An expenditure of $52,229 was incurred in the maintenance and extension of anti-malaria drainage works. Expenditure is incurred in the payment of staff on temporary wages, in labour, in the purchase of materials and on the upkeep of a motor lorry, etc. A sum of $3,119 was recovered from private owners on whose land anti¬ malaria measures were carried out; this together with the balance on the vote has been credited to Colonial revenue. (c) Malacca.—During the year the sum of $29,003 was spent on temporary and permanent anti-mosquito measures. A scheme for the permanent drainage of a ravine near Gadek Estate was undertaken during the year and was almost completed at the end of 1933. In addition, repairs were carried out to existing permanent works at Jasin and Pulau Sebang. (ii).—General Sanitation and Village Conservancy SINGAPORE A progressive improvement in the general sanitation of rural kampongs is evident. The labour force engaged in scavenging work consists of 137 coolies and six mandores (foremen) distributed within the five sanitary districts into which the Rural Area of the island is divided. The Sanitary Inspector of each district is responsible to the Health Officer for the efficient prosecution of sanitary measures. During the year, a daily average of 4,000 cubic feet of refuse was incinerated or buried. Six new incinerators were constructed at an average cost of $300 as follows : — Pasir Panjang and Paya Debar Districts, one each: Geylang District, four. It is considered that requirements are probably more adequately served by the provision of multiple inexpensive incinerators rather than by the erection of expensive single or double chambered incinerators situated at widely separated intervals. Conservancy Village conservancy in Rural, Singapore is of the dry pail system, and daily collection is in force. A further advance in the prevention of soil pollution was recorded. Three hundred and forty sanitary latrines were demolished and 870 were constructed or reconstructed on sanitary principles. The machinery for the collection of excreta remains similar to that of former years i.e. by approved nightsoil contractors utilising their own labour and transport under the supervision of the Health Officer. Only the more residential areas are catered for under this system these being gazetted as “Compulsory Nightsoil Removal Areas”. The contractor is authorised to collect up to $1 per pail per month. In many cases, a mutual adjustment is attained between the contractor and the householder at a lower figure. This system of collection continues to give satisfaction and adequate supervision is maintained to ensure final disposal in the trenching grounds or septic tanks provided for the purpose. There are at present four trenching grounds and three septic tanks. The number of pails on the removal list is 3,546 compared with 3,050 at the end of 1932 and 1,470 in 1930.