D. No. 245-P.H.
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
MADRAS, 28th June 1924.
From
DR. K. T. MATTHEW, D.Hy. (Durham), D.P.H. (Cantab),
Officiating Director of Public Health, Madras.
To
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT (PUBLIC HEALTH) DEPARTMENT, MADRAS.
SIR,
I have the honour to submit the Report on Vaccination in the Madras
Presidency for the year 1923-24.
1. The District Health Scheme, which had been in force in the districts of
Kistna, Kurnool, Tanjore, Trichinopoly and Vizagapatam, was on 1st April 1923
extended to the remaining districts of the Presidency with the exception of the
Nilgiris and the Agency portions of Ganjām, Gōdāvari and Vizagapatam.
Consequent on this extension, Government in their Order No. 555-P.H., dated
30th March 1923, sanctioned 205 posts of Health Inspectors (including the old
Deputy Inspectors of Vaccination). There being however 219 taluks in the
Presidency, the distribution of Health Inspectors, one to every taluk, could not be
effected on the principle laid down by Government that a Health Inspector should
be in charge of each taluk. Requests from certain local bodies for additional hands
were also subsequently received and so on my recommendation, Government in
G.O. No. 1719-P.H., dated 16th October 1923, sanctioned 14 additional appoint
ments to complete the required number.
2. The administration and control of vaccination in rural areas continued to
be vested in the Taluk Boards during the year. But in the case of the Nilgiris,
the control is vested in the District Board—there being no taluk boards in the
district. The question of the centralization of this control in the District Boards
is under the consideration of Government and orders thereon are awaited.
During the year, the Agency Division which was under the control of the
Agency Commissioner was abolished and Government in G.O. No. 52-P.H., dated
10th January 1924, transferred the control of vaccination and sanitation in the
Agency areas to the District Medical Officers and the Agents to the Governor in
Ganjām and Vizagapatam and the Government Agent, Gōdāvari.
3. During the year, glycerine lymph was used in all local board areas and
municipalities and a set of clear instructions for its use was drawn up by the
Director, King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy, and forwarded to all
officers in the Public Health Department for information and guidance.
4. The Vaccination Code was revised and published during the year under
the name, the Public Health Code—Vaccination section—and copies thereof were
distributed to all officers responsible for the administration of vaccination in the
Presidency.
5. Routine vaccination work was suspended in the hot-weather months
during the year in all districts and municipalities except the Nilgiris. The off
season was specially utilized by the Health staff in detecting a large number of
births and unprotected children which had escaped registration. Proposals have
been received from a few District Health Officers for effecting certain alterations
in the hot-weather period of cessation of vaccination obtaining in their districts
for special reasons, and these are receiving my separate consideration.