Rockefeller Foundation's Typhoid Control Campaign at Kalutara-Totamune in Sri Lanka
Abstract
The Kalutara Health Unit, established in 1926 by the International Health Board (IHB) of the Rockefeller Foundation, functioned as a “model” of public health in Asia. Typhoid fever endemic in the Kalutara health unit area during the 1930s caused concern for the IHB representative in Sri Lanka because the health unit served as the training center for the local and foreign public health personnel. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to control the disease, the IHB sponsored a bacteriological analysis of the problem, followed by a two-year sanitary engineering project that brought the disease under control. The successful typhoid control program in the Kalutara health unit area was an excellent case of international cooperation, and local community support in disease control that contributed to Sri Lanka's outstanding health achievements.
Key Words: Kalutara Health Unit; Typhoid fever; Rockefeller Foundation
DOI: 10.4038/gmj.v16i1.2906
Galle Medical Journal, Vol 16: No. 1, March 2011 pp.29-32
© 2011 Soma Hewa, published by Galle Medical Association
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License.