Page 115 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(1) (2024)

by the Economic Advisory Council (PRAAD, various chiefs, especially at the paramount lev-
Accra, ADM 11/1/156, Human Trypanosomi- el, to perform certain administrative roles which
asis Committee and best means of combating, supported the effective outcome of the fight
1935). In particular, the human trypanosomia- against trypanosomiasis.
sis committee consisted of members of the var-
ious health organizations and agencies in the Clearing of Sites
colony, which included representatives from Another strategy employed by the colonial ad-
5
the Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, ministration to control trypanosomiasis in As-
the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, and the ante was site clearing. Writing in the 1960s,
6
Medical Research Council. At the local level, Morris reported that during the colonial peri-
the committee was comprised of health profes- od, several territories were affected, and empha-
sionals in the district (PRAAD, Accra, ADM sis was placed on vector control. Also, a method
11/1/156, Human Trypanosomiasis Committee for the complete eradication of Glossina palpa- 115
and best means of combating, 1935). The com- lis and Glossina tachinoides was enacted by se-
mittee was tasked with performing the follow- lectively clearing suspected areas (Morris 2006).
ing functions: Coghe’s (2017) research has also emphasized the
need for rampant site clearing and other vec-
– Prepare a practical scheme and British enqu- tor control programmes. He reported that pre-
iry and actions, which aimed at controlling ventive measures were introduced in this pe-
the tsetse fly as carriers of trypanosomiasis. riod to combat the spread of the disease since
– Increase knowledge on trypanosomiasis by curative drugs were scarce. This, therefore, de-
research work, whether at home or overse- mystifies the reason why the Gold Coast med-
as, and improve the coordination and scien- ical department concentrated strongly on mass
tific knowledge and administrative actions clearing as a preventive health care strategy to
in different parts of Africa. combat trypanosomiasis. According to the Gold
– Map out tsetse-fly-prone areas and admini- Coast medical department, site clearing was the
ster treatment.
most effective method of eliminating trypano-
These functions helped the committee in re- somiasis since this had a greater impact on lar-
spective ways to achieve its aims and objectives. vae destruction. Site clearing was twofold, name-
To ensure proper coordination and ac- ly, aggressive and offensive clearing (PRAAD, Indigenous and European Policies and Strategies for Combatting Asante Trypanosomiasis
countability of service, the subcommittee was Kumase, ARG.1/14/16, Tsetse Eradication-Ku-
charged with collaborating with the local ad- mase, 23rd November, 1936 and PRAAD, Ku-
ministration in the different territories in the mase, ARG1/14/16 Report by A.M.J Pomeroy,
colony (PRAAD, Accra, ADM 11/1/156, Hu- Medical Entomologist 1925). Concerning ag-
man Trypanosomiasis Committee and best gressive clearing, a specific site or territory which
means of combating, 1935). This was possible as was declared by health officials as a high-prone
a result of the indirect rule system introduced tsetse area was cleared. The clearing was done by
by the British government, which made use of persons who had undergone some form of train-
the local authority as part of the administra- ing to get rid of the tsetse. This method of clear-
tion. Due to this, a system of powers and func- ing was mostly done in the dry season (PRAAD,
tions in the form of devolution were given to the Kumase, ARG.1/14/16, Site Clearing, 1936 and
PRAAD, Kumase, ARG.1/14/16. Notes on Ku-
5 The Society of Tropical Medicine was formed in 1907 by
the British government to help control both non- commu- mase Clearing and Tsetse flies, 1936). The rea-
nicable and communicable diseases in the tropics. son is that during the dry season, the tsetse stay
6 The Imperial Bureau of Entomology was formed in 1908 in shade and bushes where they can have a con-
to control and prevent insects which in many ways affect
human activities. ducive temperature for their survival. Therefore,