The Historie Research On Schistosomiasis Control Around The Area Of Dongting Lake In Hunan Province During The Period 1949-1965

The schistosome disease has existed in all parts of China for years, in particular, the Dong Ting Lake Area in Hunan Province, the most serious area. The serious disease has affected people's production, life, birth and entertainment. It has brought great agony to people in the affected areas and impeded the economic development of the society.Before the founding of New China, the schistosome disease spread quickly and indulged in wanton. The old government attempted and accomplished nothing against the prevention of the disease and with cure for people. People could do nothing but to trust to luck. After the founding of the New China, Schistosomiasis Control Work on the spread and cure of the schistosome disease has been in the agenda schedule of the New China government to safeguard people's health, to restore and develop the economy of the affected areas, and to consolidate newly-established regime. Considering the fact that the situation of the schistosome disease was very serious around the Dong Ting Lake Area at that time, the New China government has taken a series of instant measures on the spread and cure of the schistosome disease as follows: the prevention and treatment institution was set up; the publicity work on the knowledge of Schistosomiasis Control Work was intensified; the financial investment on Schistosomiasis Control Work was promoted; A series of such active comprehensive measures as Examination, Treatment, Extermination, Control and Prevention were taken against the disease. The large-scale mass activities of searching and exterminating field snails were conducted in the process of the basic construction on irrigation and water conservancy. The large-scale general examination and treatment activities were conducted.Through the incessant efforts of 17years from 1949 to 1965, great achievements of Schistosomiasis Control Work in the Dong Ting Area have been made and plenty of experience on the prevention and treatment of the disease has been accumulated so that the course, policy and strategy of Schistosomiasis Control Work has been formed gradually and the efficient mechanism on prevention and treatment has been established. All these above have promoted the development of the Grass-Roots Prevention and Treatment System of Public Health in China.Owing to the influence of subjective and objective factors, Schistosomiasis Control Work during the period was not going smoothly but twists and turns continued, even some serious lapsuses emerged. For example, part of the affected areas declared blindly that the schistosome disease had been extinguished by the end of 1958. Therefore, the institutions on Schistosomiasis Control Work were dismantled and merged. As a result, it exerted great unfavorable influence on Schistosomiasis Control Work in the late several years. Schistosomiasis Control Work didn't restore until 1963.Schistosomiasis Control Work around the Dong Ting Lake Area in Hunan Province from 1949-1965 has experienced a twisty process from Beginning(1949-1955), Climax(1956-1958), Bottom(1959-1961), to Restoration(1962-1965). It is worthwhile to reflect and summarize the historic experience and lessons left by Schistosomiasis Control Work during the period, which is of great reference values to the current Schistosomiasis Control Work.