Malaria eradication and colonial sanitation projects in Semarang in the early 20th century
Keywords:
disease, eradication, malaria, sanitation projects, SemarangAbstract
Malaria was a widespread disease in the coastal cities of the Dutch East Indies, with swampy landscapes making these urban areas particularly susceptible to outbreaks. Semarang was one of the port cities in the Dutch East Indies that underwent an industrial transformation in the plantation sector, which increased the population and changed the environment and public health, especially among the indigenous population. Since the early 20th century, malaria has been a disease that has infected and caused the death of Semarang residents. This malaria spread is exacerbated by the poor living conditions of the indigenous population, leading to outbreaks of other diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhus in the early 20th century. This study aims to provide a historical perspective and critical analysis of public health policy in relation to colonial sanitation interventions in the Dutch East Indies. This historical analysis employs a historical method comprising heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The results of this study show that since the early 20th century, Semarang has suffered from severe environmental and sanitation challenges during this transitional period. These problems were intensified by increasing rural migration and the proliferation of slums on the city's periphery. The colonial government's shift in health policy—from curative to hygienic-prophylactic approaches—enabled broader access to health services. The Semarang city government's policy on colonial sanitation projects, including kampongverbetering (village improvement), hygiene maintenance, and the provision of a clean water supply, all aimed at improving the overall public health of the urban population.References
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