§ Mr. Russellasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what improvement has been made in the health of the people of the West African Colonies, Protectorates and Trusteeship Territories in recent years.
§ Mr. LytteltonThere has been a general improvement in the health of the peoples of these territories. For example, the use of new drugs in certain areas has drastically reduced the incidence of leprosy. In Nigeria, mobile teams have been set up to deal speedily with outbreaks of epidemic diseases, and a large pilot scheme is in being to combat yaws. Trypanosomiasis has ceased to be a public health problem in the Gold Coast. In the Northern region of Nigeriaa considerable area has also been cleared of the tsetse fly.
For further information I would refer the hon. Member to the health sections in the annual reports of the territories. Copies of these reports and of the latest annual reports of the Health Departments concerned have been placed in the Library of the House.