Page 121 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(1) (2024)

Esuyeboa, Tanoso, Abuakwa, Asonomaso, Man- such patients reported to the hospital until they
hyia, Akropon, Afrofrom, Dadiase, Bokankye, were cured (MAG, Kumase, MAG 1/1/162A,
Apatrapa, Abase, Adumanu and Owhim. Again, Rule 27 of 1940 published in Gazette 71 of
on 7 September 1945, it was proposed that Ku- 2nd November 1940; MAG, Kumase, MAG
mase villages should be re-surveyed. A centre 1/1/162A, Rule 27 of 1940 published in Gazette
was opened by the Colonial Administration at 71 of 2nd November 1940, page 24. Regulations
Abrepo in 1945 to cater for cases that came from made by the Governor in Council under Section
areas within a five-mile radius of Kumase and 18 of the Infectious diseases). Here, you see a pol-
places that were not surveyed. Significantly, the icy that was aimed at building a relationship be-
survey of villages for trypanosomiasis persisted tween the British Colonial Administration and
up to the 1950s. Again, in spite of the good work the Chiefs to fight against the scourge of trypa-
done by the medical team, they were not success- nosomiasis in Asante.
ful at some of the places they went because of the Patients were mostly quarantined. In addi- 121
attitude of the indigenous people. Dr Saunders is tion, in cases where people were examined in vil-
noted to have reported in 1941 that he had trou- lages, they were referred to hospitals for further
ble at the village called Aboabo. He said the in- treatment. By 26 February 1943, it came to the
habitants did not come for treatment. Dr Saun- notice of the Chief Commissioner that the As-
ders further proposed that as the place was by a antehene and the Confederacy Council were un-
railroad to Accra, it was important that the peo- happy about the scourge of trypanosomiasis in
ple were examined. Asante (MAG, Kumase, MAG 1/1/162A, Rule
At Mo, Dr Saunders encountered a sim- 27 of 1940 published in Gazette 71 of 2nd No-
ilar problem. He also suggested a further sur- vember 1940; MAG, Kumase, MAG 1/1/162A,
vey at Adiebeba, Ahodwo, Tuase, Nhyiaeso and Rule 27 of 1940 published in Gazette 71 of 2nd
Adiembra (MAG, Kumase, MAG 1/1/85, Re- November 1940, page 24. Regulations made by
port of Dr. Saunders, 21st October, 1941). Nev- the Governor in Council under Section 18 of the
ertheless, it was noted by the Colonial Adminis- Infectious diseases). As a result of this, the Chief
tration that the indigenous people were ignorant Commissioner was asked by the Asante Con-
of the true nature of the disease and that became federacy Council to recommend an amendment
their greatest obstacle in dealing with it. Super- under the Native Law and Custom Order mak-
stition and semi-religious accounts of the origin ing it an offence to refuse to report to the Native Indigenous and European Policies and Strategies for Combatting Asante Trypanosomiasis
of trypanosomiasis and of the process by which Authority the occurrence of any infectious or
an individual could be infected abounded. The contagious disease. Again, all District Commis-
Colonial Administration called for a gradu- sioners in Asante were charged to make it known
al enlightenment of the indigenous people by in their districts, especially to persons or Officers
means of persistent although not blatant propa- in charge of Infectious Disease Regulation, to re-
ganda (MAG, PRAAD, Accra, ADM 11/1/1560, port cases of sleeping sickness or any other infec-
Human Trypanosomiasis Committee and best tious disease and to also make known to the peo-
means of combating – Recommendations as to ple the penalties attached to the failure to report
clearing in Asante). Significantly, rule number such cases (MAG, Kumase, MAG 1/1/85, Cor-
27 of 1940 of the Gold Coast empowered a chief respondence between the Assistant Director of
to compel a trypanosomiasis patient undergoing Medical Service, Kumase and the District Com-
treatment at the hospital to complete the course missioner, Asante).
of treatment. For example, in Bekwai, trypano- Significantly, Table 1.0 represents the toll
somiasis patients were compelled by the authori- of human trypanosomiasis within the period
ties at the Bekwai Hospital to report to the Bek- under review. However, the table might not be
waihene (The Chief of Bekwai) to guarantee that considered as a definite proof of the alleged large