Dr. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any statistics are available of the incidence of malaria in Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa during the last three years; and whether there is any co-ordination of malaria control as an item of war strategy in West Africa or whether the different services are left in control in their several spheres and special areas?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanComplete statistics for malaria generally in Sierra Leone and elsewhere in West Africa for 545W the last three years are not available but special attention has been given to the question since the outbreak of war and a mission was sent out to investigate and advise on the measures to be taken against the incidence of malaria in Freetown. The measures recommended are being implemented as far as possible, with funds provided under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act and including permanent measures of control. Similar attention has been given to the problem in other West African dependencies. There is the closest co-ordination between the civil administrations and the Services including the U.S.A. authorities in dealing with this problem, and in addition an officer of the Colonial Medical Service visits all seaports in British West Africa to advise on the co-ordination of the measures which are being taken.
Dr. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether swamps in the vicinity of chosen aerodrome sites in West Africa are being effectively drained or oiled as part of an effective malaria control direction; and whether an officer of the Royal Air Force, a civilian malariologist or an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps is responsible for preventive health action at or in the vicinity of these sites?
§ Mr. MacmillanVery active control measures against malaria and yellow fever are being taken at all airfield sites in British West Africa. The executive authority for preventive health action is usually an officer of the R.A.F. who in general control airfield sites in British West Africa. The R.A.F. have their own specialist officer to deal with the problem and an experienced entomologist seconded from the Colonial Medical Service has recently been visiting all airfields in British Africa.
Dr. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any reports have been received from the Resident Minister of State on malaria; whether the advantage of screening as an effective safeguard has been considered and to what extent it has been adopted; and whether consideration has been given to the desirability of appointing one experienced malariologist in effective control and directly responsible to the Resident Minister for a concerted plan, to safeguard the health of all troops as well as civilians in this area?
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§ Mr. MacmillanEvery aspect of this important problem is receiving the most careful consideration by the civil and Service authorities concerned in conjunction with the United States military authorities in West Africa. My Noble Friend has been in telegraphic consultation with the Resident Minister and he understands that Lord Swinton considers that satisfactory machinery has been devised for co-ordinating measures to deal with this problem.