Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health / City Council of Pretoria.

  • Pretoria (South Africa). Health Department.
Date:
[1965]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health / City Council of Pretoria. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/192 (page 3)
    Introductory Letter YOUR WORSHIP THE MAYOR and MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRETORIA. I have the honour to present the 62nd Annual Health Report of the City of Pretoria. Although at the time of writing I had already retired on superannuation as Medical Officer of Health, it was felt that I should complete this Annual Report, because it is the record of happenings during the last year of my term of office. In the introductory letter to my last Annual report I gave a very full analysis of what had happened in the field of Public Health in this city for the past three decades, during which time I was Medical Officer of Health. It is only intended here to deal briefly with some of the happenings since last year. The report itself, as usual, contains full details of all matters pertaining to Public Health in this city. Once again I am pleased to record that the health of the city has remained very satisfactory, sanitation has been maintained at the same high level as before and Pretoria remains a reasonably clean city. It is a pity however, that we still have so many people who are so careless about dis¬ carding litter. His Worship the Mayor has made a special appeal to the public to keep our city clean. Both from health and aesthetic points of view I would like to support the Mayor whole¬ heartedly in his appeal and make a special request for a “keep your city clean effort” by each and everyone. I also appeal to the many people who so selfishly and carelessly deposit loads of rubbish on any convenient open space, to the annoyance of the neighbourhood and to the detriment of health. Such wanton thoughtlessness is hardly understandable in people who live in such a beautiful city where so much time, effort and money is spent on trying to keep it clean and healthy and on providing so many beautiful parks and open spaces. The Press has been most helpful to this De¬ partment in so many ways, perhaps it could also help us here in trying to stop this iniquitous practice. The Bureau of Statistics has not been able to supply us with population figures for this year. I am therefore, unable to make accurate comparisons with previous years. All our vital statistics are based on this year’s population figures. This year’s figures are based on population figures given last year and they are therefore, not correct and should be corrected in next year’s report when accurate population figures are available. However, all the actual numbers insofar as births, deaths, incidence of various illnesses, infantile mortality and so on are concerned, are all correct and these figures do indicate what changes, if any, there have been, and are a good guide as to general trends. A brief analysis of some of the returns show the following: There has been an increase in birth rates in Europeans, Bantu and Asiatics, and a slight drop in the Eurafrican rates. Death rates have come down in Europeans and Bantu, and there is a slight rise amongst Asiatics and Eurafricans. The most satisfactory recording is in regard to infantile mortality rates. This figure reflects the number of children who die in the first year of their lives per 1,00C live births, and is regarded by Public Health authorities as the figure which is an indication of general health conditions. Our infantile mortality rate figures have for many years been very good, but this year we have the second lowest figure ever recorded amongst Europeans, i.e. 23.46—last year it was 30.39 and only in 1956 did we have a lower figure of 21.31. Amongst Bantu we have achieved the amazing result of bringing the figure down to 56.53—the lowest ever recorded! The next lowest figure was in 1963 when it was 83.63. If we compare the figures for Europeans of 40 years ago when it was 48.48 with to-day’s figure of 23.46, and that of the Bantu which 40 years ago was 385.51 with 56.53 this year, we realise how great the achievement has been. The Health Department has through it’s Child Welfare clinics, educational and immunisation programmes and all other health activities, played a great role in saving so many childrens’ lives year by year. Amongst Europeans heart disease again took the heaviest toll, although for the first time in many years the actual number came down. Last year there were 389 deaths and this year 380. Cancer was the next highest cause of death. This figure rose from 132 cases last year to 216 this year. Amongst Non-Europeans there is a different picture. Bronchitis and Pneumonia took the greatest toll, although the figure came down from 257 to 185 this year. The next highest rate was from heart disease, but it also came down from 171 to 110. Cancer amongst Non-Europeans only takes third place and it is also down from 80 last year to 71 this year. A very disturbing feature is the continual rise in deaths due to motor accidents. In Europeans it rose this year from 14 to 44 and in Non-Europeans from 42 to 55. I have said from year to year that South Africa has the unenviable reputation of having one of the highest motor accident rates in the world. Most of this is so unnecessary because most accidents are avoidable. Selfishness, thoughtlessness and inebriety all play a great part in this high accident rate. Of course, all accidents are not avoidable, but if people would only stop to think of the potential danger of a high speed motor car and exercise a little care and become a little less selfish—so much tragedy and unhappiness could be avoided.