Master of history Zhalmagambetov Y.A.

Institute of Magistracy and Doctoral (PhD) of Abay, Kazakhstan

Malaria and ways to tackle the it in Kizilorda in 20th of XX century

The malaria or marsh fever is already known for a long time to mankind and considered to be the most widespread disease on the Globe. It can be related to "historical" diseases as malarial epidemics have taken place in a several governments throughout a history. There are about 20 various kinds of Anopheles mosquitoes, which transmit the malaria. Almost all species of the Anopheles order bite at night time. Mosquitoes breed in water, and each species prefer a particular place for reproduction. For instance, some species prefer shallow fresh reservoirs, such as pools, rice fields and traces from hoofs. Considering the importance of the disease this paper will attempt to describe the approaches, that were made to tackle with the Malaria in Kazakh’s Soviet State (particularly in Kizilorda). To do so firstly financial burden will be discussed, then secondly the effort made by USSR to handle the problem will be covered and finally particular situation in Kazakhstan will be mentioned.

The most disastrous incidence of the malaria was detected in 1923 in the Soviet Union. Consequently, the economic development also dropped and accounted about 400.000.000 roubles in 1932 because of the high cases of malaria. Furthermore, Central Asian republics had lost 100.000.000 roubles in the same year. Interestingly, approximately the same financial lost was observed in other countries around the world. For example, in 1913 the United States of America spent 16868000 US dollars. Another negative outcome was in Italy when 600000 hectares of the ground became useless, and consecutive financial lost accounted for 30000000lyres [1, 9p].
The Russia turned its attention toward the disease, which brought a considerable financial problems for a national economy, only after October’s revolution. Specifically, during pre-revolutionary period there was only one malarial station in Batumi. However during the First World War between 1914-1918 it had to stop its work due to lack of financial support [2, 18p].

Nevertheless, planned system against a Malaria was initiated in the USSR in 20^th years of XX century. Eventually, the network of specialized antimalarial stations and institutes were expanded in 1930^th. In addition the planned governmental program against the infection became more active in the same period. Specifically, the Tropical institute was created in 1920 year. Furthermore, Narkomzdrav organized the Central malarial commission in 1921 year. On May 12, 1924 СНК has published the decree «About actions against a Malaria» which had obligated local organizations to handle the disease due to Narkomzdrav’s order. All these actions have allowed to liquidate a Malaria in the USSR [3].

The antimalarial stations worked ineffectively because of lack of enough financial supply, insufficiency of staff and medicines, economical crisis and starvation. In 1929 listed above challenges led to elimination of 4 existing antimalarial stations among 5, which were opened in 1923 [4].

The transfer of a capital of Orenburg into Kizilorda in 1925 was coupled with transportation of biochemical station with staff of 23 persons. This station had four group of staff, including one doctor, one nurse, one medical assistant and one personnel. The efficacy of malarial station could be expressed by the following facts: the number of primary patients on October was 155 individuals, receded 354 individuals and among them Kazakhs were 10%, however Europeans were 90% [5].
The epidemiological situation of Kizilorda was informed by one doctor in 1926 at sanitary control meeting of a public health department. In his report he pointed out about increase of mosquitoes(particularly species of Anopheles order) in a city due to development of the brick industry and irrigation systems. Consequently, there was a danger of spreading of disease within a population of a city. Probably one of the radical method was to cover the unused wells [6].

In addition to mentioned way, there was used biological method against a Malaria as well. The fish called Hambuzi was used to kill the mosquitoes as it was natural predator for them. After successful acclimatization of Hambuzi, they were intensively imported into USSR by a doctor N. P.Ruhadze in 1925. Also benefits of usage Hambuzi were gained by other countries of Central Asia, Caucasus, in the south of RSFSR and Ozbek Soviet republic as well. All these measures against a malaria have started to give positive the outcomes.

In conlusion, the history of antimalarial actions had its own specificity in USSR. For example, due to financial problems several stations had to be halted. Also there were approaches to handle the spreading of the disorder. Probably, the most effective way was the biological method against a Malaria. Due to the given reports of republican sanitary-and-epidemiological station, in 1957 the incidences of the Malaria were fully under control and it can be said that Kizilorda and Grevsky were free from Malaria.

Reference list:

1. Аsqarov Akbar. «Malarija-Bezqak kasalinin kecişi davalaş jolları ham unın blan kuraş caraları», Taşkent 1935 year, 9 p.

2. Jurchak F.F. «The Malaria in Kazakhstan» Аlmaty, 1949 yer, 18 p.
3. http://www.rus-stat.ru/stat/3072000_9.pdf, 14-15 р.р.

4. Shapieva Zh.Zh. «Distribution of a malaria in Kazakhstan and improvement of preventive actions in modern conditions» Dissertation for the degree of candidate of biological sciences, Almaty, 2007 year, 22-23 p.p.

5. Governmental archive of Kizilorda, F.1, Op.2, D.336, L.76
6. GAoK, F.191, Op.1, D.4, L.140