2
6. In municipalities, the off-season work of vaccinators has, generally
speaking, been more effectively supervised. During the year, three additional
municipal Health Officers were entertained, and District Health Officers were, in
G.O. No. 1393-P.H., dated 11th August 1926, made responsible for the supervision
of vaccination and registration of vital statistics in municipalities having no
Health Officers. The best results will, however, be impossible of attainment
until every municipality has its own Health Officer. Under present circum
stances, the off-season work is very frequently neglected, and the vaccinators are
employed on other duties. It is reported, for instance, that in one municipality
the vaccinator was employed during the off-season in the preparation of electoral
rolls. However important these may be to would-be municipal councillors, it is
more importaut that the child population should be effectively protected, and the
time spent by the vaccinator in tabulating voters would have been not only more
usefully, but more legitimately, expended in preparing his unprotected registers.
7. Mention was made in last year's report of the lack of co-operation
between the Presidents of Local Boards and District Health Officers in the matter
of vaccination, and the Government in their review advised Presidents of Local
Boards to give every consideration to the recommendations of these officers in
this connexion.
Local boards have, unfortunately, made little effort to follow that advice, and,
as a rule, the recommendations made by Health Officers have been ignored. In
a number of cases, the question has now become acute, and calls for the immediate
delegation of powers of control to Health Officers both in the interest of discipline
and of efficient work. For instance, the President of Hospet Taluk Board gave
a vaccinator his full travelling allowance after the District Health Officer had
recommended reduction because of waste of four successive supplies of lymph. In
Bast Gōdāvari, periods of casual and privilege leave were granted to vaccinators by
Taluk Board Presidents, without even consulting the District Health Officer, and
regardless of the urgency of the work. More than once, intimation of the grant
of leave was sent to the District Health Officer only after the leave had expired,
and little thought was given to the appointment of substitutes. In Tanjore
District, an unqualified man was rightly replaced by a qualified vaccinator, but the
Taluk Board President concerned subsequently thought fit to reappoint the same
unqualified individual. Instances of this kind could be multiplied, but these will
probably suffice to prove that the administration of vaccination is not nearly as
efficient as it might be. Presidents of Local Boards are generally very reluctant
to delegate powers in matters regarding leave, transfers, appointments, and
punishments of vaccinators to their District Health Officers, but until they do so,
the administration will be defective.
8. The office of the Assistant Director of Public Health (Vaccination) was
held by Captain N. R. Ubhaya throughout the year, except from 16th May to
15th June when he was on leave, Dr. A. Thirumalayya acting during this period.
The subjoined statement shows the inspections carried out by these officers:—
Captain N. R. Ubhaya, D.P.H.
Date.
1926.
9th to 19th April
8th and 9th May
26th to 28th June
...
14th to 29th July
...
1st to 18th September.
Remarks.
Routine sanitary inspection of Māyavaram Municipality, inspection
of Vaccinator's work in Kumbakōnam, Tatijore and Mannārgudi
Municipalities and inspection of smallpox measures in Negapatam
and Nannilam Taluks.
Enquiry into the conduct of Rāmnād District Health Officer's office
Head Clerk and inspection of the office of the District Health
Officer, Rāmnād.
Inspection of cholera measures in Negapatam Taluk.
Inspection of vaccination in Ganjām District and in the municipal
ities of Berhampur, Chicacole and of vital statistics in Chatrapur
Union.
Attended Pairs and Festivals Conference in Tirupati, inspected
vaccination in parts of Guntūr District, examined cholera measures
in Guntūr Town and Vinukonda Taluk, and made a routine
sanitary inspection of Guntūr Municipality.