§ 11. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Government of Nigeria are taking to deal with the critical health and mortality situation as indicated in the Annual Report?
§ Mr. AMERYThe Nigerian Government is taking every possible step to deal with the outbreaks of disease referred to in the Report, which is for the year 1925. I am given to understand that the severe epidemics in the Northern Provinces did not recur in 1926. As regards plague in the Southern Provinces, a special visit was paid to Nigeria by Sir Edward Thornton of the Union of South Africa, and as a result an energetic campaign has been undertaken with the aid of personal borrowed from the Army. Thirty-one medical officers have been appointed to Nigeria since January, 1925, and the medical and sanitary departments have been expanded and will be further enlarged. It is not correct to describe the situation as critical. In a country so large as Nigeria, it is quite impossible to prevent the introduction of epidemic disease from time to time.