FOR THE YEARS 1926-27 TO 1928-29.
3
Statement I
2. Total Operations.—The total number of operations performed
during the triennium was 2,530,231, as compared with 2,401,795 in the
previous triennium, an increase of 128,436 operations—and of 511,837 on
that of the triennium 1920-21 to 1922-23. Out of 41 districts, 23 show
an increase and 18 a decrease.
The district which returned the
largest increase is Akyab, in which 56,759 more operations were recorded
than in the previous triennium, almost entirely re-vaccinations—the gain
under this class of vaccination being 54,286. In this district the
presence of small-pox was the inducement for the increase. In 1926-27
the number of deaths recorded from small-pox was only 34; it rose to
162 deaths in 1927-28, and was serious in 1928-29, when 526 deaths
were registered. Simultaneously with the rise in small-pox deaths, the
output of vaccination rose from 20,786 in 1926-27 to 46,351 in 1927-28
and 64,250 in 1928-29. The next district which returned a notable
increase is Prome with an excess of 31,325 over the figure of the
previous triennium. In this district also small-pox was present
throughout the triennium and more prevalent than in the previous
triennium. The Deputy Commissioner, Prome (Mr. Stanford) attributed
the increase and improved state of vaccination to the appointment of an
Assistant District Health Officer, Dr. Chit Twe, to the keenness of the
District Health Officer, Major Hamlin, and to the supervision and great
interest taken by both in vaccination and public health matters.
Mr. Stanford ascertained that for six years previously, certain
villages had not been visited by the vaccinators and that their diaries
were falsified. The recent stimulus to vaccination in this district is
largely due to his personal interest in vaccination as in all matters
affecting the health of the people. The third place in which a large
increase is noticed is Rangoon, where 25,018 more operations were
performed than in the previous triennium, although the incidence of
small-pox was less. The other districts which returned appreciable
increases are Magwe (+ 23,414). Toungoo (+ 22,574) Amherst (+ 20,623)
Southern Shan States (+ 19,509) Shwebo (+ 15,138), Yamèthin
(+ 14,643) and Pegu ( + 12,497). In all these districts small-pox was
prevalent more ,or less constantly. This disease is the chief stimulant
for people to submit to vaccination readily, as illustrated in the case of
the districts mentioned above, and particularly in the case of the Magwe
district. In this district (rural areas) there were three deaths from
small-pox in 1926-27. In the month of March 1927, there was a sudden
severe outbreak of small-pox in Taungdwingyi Town, resulting in 51
deaths from the disease in that month. The outbreak lasted up to June
taking a toll of 190 deaths in four months and from this place it spread
into the rural areas of the district, where 145 deaths occurred in
different villages in 1927-28. This spread of the disease aroused the
district authorities who appointed additional temporary Vaccination Staff
in that year and vaccination and revaccination were carried out
vigorously. The output of vaccination in the district rose from 19,616