Malaria and the Subsistence Crisis in Northeast Shewa, Ethiopia, in the 20th Century

ABSTRACT

Malaria is one of the top five fatal illnesses in Ethiopia. This study examines the historical ecology of malaria and the subsistence crisis in Northeast Shewa in the 20th century. Findings reveal that malaria not only caused health problems but also hindered productivity and development. The prevalence of the illness hindered settlement and development in Northeast Shewa until the 1950s and 1960s. Although malaria was endemic to the region, major outbreaks were intermittent. The absence of adequate health facilities added to the impoverishment and low awareness of the local people, and the poor housing and environmental conditions made the members of local society the worst victims. Moreover, the change of the behaviour of the vector and the parasite, partly due to climate change, made prevention and control efforts challenging. Since the 1950s, the Ethiopian government has been working, with the support of the World Health Organization and the United Nations, to eradicate the illness and reduce the intensity of the problem. The study depends on archival documents and oral sources.

KEYWORDS:

• control
• epidemic
• eradication
• malaria
• prevention

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest was declared by the author.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to my informants. I translated Amharic sources into English. All dates were converted from the Ethiopian to the Gregorian calendar, except for those provided on the archival documents.

Notes

1 EGDAO. 1958. No folder and File, 18/02/1958EC and Ref no. 162/58.

2 EGDAO. 1966EC. No folder, No File, 22/4/1966 and Ref no. 308/129/66. Earlier to this year, though sporadic in nature, malaria broke out around Jewuha in Yefat and Temuga awrajja in October 1965. For more see EGDAO.1958. No folder, No File, 18/02/1958EC, Ref no. 162/58.

3 EGDAO.1977. No folder, File no.15/77, 8/4/77EC and Ref no. ወ/314/1370/77.; See also EGDAO. 1977. No folder, File no.15/77, 26/1/77EC and No Ref.

4 EGDAO. 1977. No folder, File no.15/77, 26/1/77EC and Ref no. 86/129/77.

5 EGDAO.1977. No folder, File no.15/77, 28/01/77EC and Ref no. ኢ/1445/367/77.

6 EGDAO.1977. No folder, File no.15/77, 19/10/77EC and Ref no. 15/77.

7 EGDAO.1977. No folder, File no.15/77, 15/10/77EC and Ref no. 81/77.

8 EGDAO.1977. No Folder and File, 10/10/77EC and No Ref.no.

9 EGDAO.1980. No Folder and File, 25/10/80EC and Ref no. ጀወ11/14/28.

10 EGDAO.1980. No Folder and File, 23/10/80EC and Ref no. 276/40/3/80.

11 EGDAO.1980. No Folder and File, 25/11/80EC and Ref no. 329/40/3/80.

12 EGDAO.1980. No Folder and File, 25/11/80EC and Ref no. 329/40/3/80.

13 EGDAO.1981. No Folder and File, 07/02/81EC and Ref no. አጤጥ/53/40/03/81.

14 EGDAO.1981. No Folder and File, 07/02/81EC and Ref no. አጤጥ/52/40/03/81.

15 EGDAO.1981. No Folder and File, 01/02/81EC and Ref no. አጤጥ/26/40/03/81.

16 EGDAO.1981. No Folder and File, 10/03/81EC and Ref.no. 95/81.

17 EGDAO.1981. No Folder and File, 19/03/81EC and Ref no. ደ/205/39/81.

18 EGDAO.1981. No Folder and File, 02/03/81EC and Ref no. አጤጥ/94/40/3/81.

19 Yifat and Temuga awrajja was placed initially at Addis Ababa zone and later at Desse zone. Under Desse zone, six sector stations were opened at Shewa Robit, Kombolcha, Woldia, Alamata, Asayta and Bati but quickly closed again. Borena and Sayent sectors were opened.

20 EGDAO.1980. No Folder and File, 19/01/80EC and Ref no.10/40/3/80.

21 EGDAO.1980. No Folder and File, 19/01/80EC and Ref no.10/40/3/80. The ecological side effects of DDT, though unnoticed and there were no comprehensive data on it, was great. According to informants, it killed bees, birds, animals and other useful micro-organisms. Thus, it affected the food web and disturbed the balance in the ecosystem. It was on this ground that DDT was substituted by less toxic chemicals like melatonin since the early 1970s.

22 EGDAO.1978. No folder and File; see also EGDAO.1978. No Folder, File no. 435/77, 06/01/78EC and Ref no. 9/435/78.

23 EGDAO.1978. No folder and File ; see also EGDAO.1978. No Folder, File no. 435/77, 06/01/78EC and Ref no. 9/435/78.

24 EGDAO.1977. No Folder, File no. 435/77, 20/03/77EC and Ref no. 3065/2195/16/77.

25 EGDAO.1977. No Folder, File no. 435/77, 10/08/77EC and Ref no. 730/435/77.

26 EGDAO.1977. No Folder, File no. 435/77, 17/09/77EC and Ref no. 874/435.

27 National Archive and Library Agency (NALA).1952. Folder 17.1.3.29., File no. 17.1.3.29. 13, 17/02/1952EC and Ref.no. 2/1/858/52; 26/07/1953EC and Ref no. 2/1/3228/53.; 10/11/53EC and Ref.no. 2/20493/768/1/48.; 4/8/54EC and Ref.no. 2/10109/3125/1/52.

28 EGDAO.1975. Folder 71129-129, No. File, 10/12/75EC and Ref, 1062/129/75; EGDAO.1976. Folder 71129-129, No File, 11/7/76EC and Ref, 589/129/76.

29 EGDAO.1958. No folder and File, 18/02/1958EC and Ref no. 162/58.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emishaw Workie Desta

Emishaw Workie Desta is a lecturer at Wollo University, Ethiopia. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at Addis Ababa University.