71
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TIILICO.
سلسالسا
885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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confidence in his work, and in the need for and utility of it, which would probably go far toward establishing the confidence of the Uganda peoples in him and his ability to help them.
86. These may not be very "scientific" conclusions, but it is conceived to be an all but indispensable part of any recolonization scheme that some means be provided to measure its success. If it is thought possible and expedient to carry one through without recrudescence of the disease in Uganda it ought certainly to be attempted, but continued absence of infection would be sure to cause continued and growing indifference which only recrudescence would serve to dispel, unless some advantage is taken of its continued existence in Kavirondo or elsewhere, but preferably in Kavirondo because of its propinquity.
XIII.-Expense.
87. The work, as planned, is constructive, and will change in character as time passes, but it will be impossible to guarantee the safety of the populations which may return to the danger zone except at the cost of unremitting effort. An annual, or semi-annual, inspection of the entire region appears to be necessary, for the lake level is constantly changing, and, with these changes, the local abundance of tsetse may fluctuate from one to the opposite extreme.
88. There were long reaches of shore in Buddu, for a striking example, which were reported to be quite free of fly in 1906, at a time when the lake level was at its highest in recent years. With the falling of the water a broad, sandy beach was left exposed, which has since grown up to dense bush, and to-day tsetse is more common than along any other equally extensive reach of shore known.
89. It is proposed that these reaches of shore shall be cleared if the natives care to make the outlay in return for their lands and fishing privileges; if it is done it will be necessary to see that the clearings are maintained; but inspection of shore which is naturally clear of fly is no less essential than of shore artificially cleared it is, in fact, more necessary, because it is the unexpected and unprevisable which must be guarded against and not such things as the growing up of bush after being cut, which any fairly intelligent native could be entrusted to prevent. 90. Only under the policy of laissez-faire does it seem possible, therefore, to reach a self-operative solution to a problem of this character, but in course of time, when the natives have been taught how to live in a manner somewhat different from that in which the present generation wants to live, they can be left to them- selves with relatively slight danger. When the new manner of life has become the custom the chances are that it would be as hard to break them of it as of any other.
91. The expense to the Government will be whatever is expedient above an irreducible minimum, but will be limited to the cost of administering the measures themselves, and, in addition, that of ordinary administration of the considerable territory (including two whole sazas) which will be virtually annexed to habitable Uganda.
92. The post of "Officer in Charge of Sleeping Sickness Administrative Measures must be filled, and by a competent European. He will need to have a corps of native inspectors, but other assistance will be a matter of expediency. One man alone ought certainly to be able to forestall recurrence of epidemic. When it comes to a question of reducing mortality in endemic centres, and lessen- ing the number of these, additional assistance would lead to more efficient service. 93. Adequate transportation facilities on the lake is an absolute necessity if only one European is employed.
XIV. Conclusions.
94. The recrudescence of sleeping sickness in some form in the lake region of Uganda appears practically certain in any event, because:-
95.
(a) Whether the trypanosome be exterminated or the tsetse, continued and
sustained effort will be required to prevent recurrence.
(b) The population, whether native or European, will prefer, in the future
as in the past, to take some risk rather than to incur the trouble and expense of perpetually guarding against an invisible danger.
It is concluded that the conditions necessary for an epidemic to occur or recur were correctly defined by Dr. Hodges in 1905, and that recolonization of
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the prescribed area, under restrictions which would prevent recurrence of these conditions, would be practicable and would preclude recurring epidemic.
96. The alternatives appear to be:-
(a) Perpetuation of the present policy, which would prevent immediate reclamation and eventually lead to recrudescence of the disease in some
form.
(b) Removal of all restrictions, which would certainly lead to recrudescence
of disease, and possibly in the form of general epidemic.
97. It is, therefore, recommended :-
(a) That the natives be permitted to recolonize their lands and redevelop
their fisheries without delay, and
(b) That the Government shall take all precautions which expediency per-
mits to render such operations safe.
(c) If it is adjudged inexpedient to exercise active supervision it is recom- mended that reclamation shall still be permitted after it has been explained to the chiefs that the Government cannot guarantee immu- nity from sleeping sickness but that serious consequences can be avoided by the use of proper precautions (which may be briefly outlined, in Luganda, as was actually done before exterminative measures were decided and acted upon).
98. Appended herewith is the outline of a scheme for reclamation which is believed to be practicable, and the cost of which to the Government would be that of its administration only and little or no greater than rigid enforcement of the present Ordinance and rules would entail.
XV.-Outline of Scheme for Reclamation of Lake Shore and Islands in Uganda.
(a) To permit reoccupation of lands bordering the lake shore, and resumption Objecta.
of fishing and traffic by water routes.
To preclude the recurrence of sleeping sickness in form of epidemic. To provide for more consistent enforcement of the Uganda Sleeping Sickness Ordinance.
(d) To provide for better control of sleeping sickness in East Africa. The present Sleeping Sickness Ordinance to remain in force, and be enforced, except as hereinafter provided.
Ordinance.
" Officer in
obarge.
The post of "Officer in Charge of Sleeping Sickness Administrative Measures to be filled by a competent European, whose work shall be limited to the Victoria Nyanza. It will be his duty to enforce the terms of the Ordinance, and under his supervision natives or other private parties interested will be permitted to reclaim and occupy lands, etc., at their own expense for clearing and other necessary operations.
The method of procedure will be as below :--
(a) The lake shore and islands will be surveyed for tsetse with especial refer- ence to the location of villages, plantations, etc., and the needs of the population. (See Note 1, following.)
(b) The parties interested will be informed of the precise amount of clearing necessary to meet the conditions required.
(0) Permission will be granted to enter the prescribed area during a limited period for the purpose of doing this work but for no other purpose.
(d) Upon its completion to the satisfaction of the Government, new boundaries will be established, and fishing grounds, canoe routes, landing places, etc., specifically authorized under the terms of the Ordinance.
(e) The parties interested will undertake to maintain such clearings, or to extend them if it is subsequently thought necessary, and, failing to do so, their fishing and other rights may be abridged to the extent which safety requires.
The precise conditions under which reclamation may be permitted will vary
In general-they are as follows:-
(Two
with circumstances.
(a) No plantation or hut to be located within ordinary "fly range." hundred to five hundred yards from water.)
(b) No well trodden path to lead to infested shore unless protected by local or general clearing.
(c) No place of "human concourse" to be located within "fly range."
(d) No fishing to be authorized within three hundred yards off shore infested
to an excessive degree.
Procedure,
Conditions.
K