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Aden (Tuberculosis)

Volume 465: debated on Wednesday 25 May 1949

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27.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what improvements have been effected since 1945 in Aden in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Since the answer is somewhat long and contains figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The civil hospital accommodation at Aden for tubercular patients has been increased from 10 to 102 beds, exclusive of 16 beds in the Jewish Emergency Hospital. No specific treatment was available before 1945, but since then 105 cases have been discharged quiescent, the majority on full work. There have been 12 relapses. Free home treatment has been instituted to cover the deficit in bed accommodation. One hundred and twenty-five cases are now undergoing that treatment. There was formerly no system of notification. In 1948 the notifications totalled 481. Before 1945 the average annual number of X-ray examinations of chests was 20; in 1948 the number was 2,160.

The hospital staff of all grades are now X-rayed every six months. Since 1945, 10 cases of tuberculosis have been discovered; of these, six are now back on full work, three are recovering and one has been invalided for other causes.

Full pay sick leave is now granted to all Government and Port Trust permanent employees who contract tuberculosis in the course of their duties, and who are recommended to be likely to benefit from treatment. A voluntary society founded by the Arab community grants monthly allowances to dependants of all poor persons treated for tuberculosis at home or in hospital. The society employs one male paid, and one female voluntary home visitor. The wartime rise in the tuberculosis death rate has been arrested and a sligh decline is now evident, but no marked decrease can be expected as many more patients are coming into Aden from the surrounding country in the hope of receiving treatment. In 1948, 156 notifications were of Aden-born persons and 325 notifications were of persons from outside the Colony.