5

15 Vaccination performed in municipal towns.—

During the season 30,254 vaccinations were performed on infants
under one year of age in municipal towns. This number works
out at about 76 per cent of the infants available for vaccination
which is a very low figure, lower in fact than in any of the previous
years. The percentage last year was 77 and in the two preceding
seasons 90 and 84. It is urgently necessary that municipal
authorities should set this matter right otherwise the results will be
disastrous. In Jubbulpore there are over 5,000 unprotected
children. Small-pox is already gaining ground in many places and
several towns such as Akola, Balapur, Harda, Khandwa, etc., are
now paying the penalty for their apathy and indifference towards
vaccination and other towns will follow suit.

16. Deaths from small-pox.—There were 420 deaths
from small-pox recorded against 373 in the previous year. I do
not think this number represents the true state of affairs since the
epidemic reports and others show that the disease has committed
serious havoc in many places.

17. General.—From the above notes it will be seen that
vaccination work is being neglected both in municipal towns and
rural areas, mainly owing to the apathy and indifference of the
local bodies. As this is the fifth year since the last big epidemic
of small-pox and there is every likelihood of the disease assuming
serious proportions, I would very strongly urge these bodies to
adopt drastic measures to work off the arrears accumulating during
the past few years.

18.    Under the Local Self-Government Act, 1920, sec-
tion 21 (d), the local bodies are responsible for vaccination. In
all but four districts—Jubbulpore, Seoni, Damoh and Balaghat—
the District Council has delegated definite powers to the Civil
Surgeon and work has been going on harmoniously. In the above
four districts the position is not clear although the Civil Surgeon
does the work and efforts are being made to arrive at a settlement.

19.    Some suggestions are now being made by local bodies
to train school masters as vaccinators and also hand over work to
dispensary Assistant Medical Officers. I fail to see any advan-
tage—the ordinary duties of these men will be interfered with while
checking of results and discipline will be made more difficult.

The need for compulsory vaccination in rural areas is more
in evidence. The case has been represented to Government.

Work in municipal towns requires close supervision and the
bylaws on the subject rigid enforcement.