Perkembangan Kesihatan Masyarakat Dayak di Sarawak, 1946-1963

The Development of the Health of the Dayak Community in Sarawak, 1946-1963

Abstract

The handover of Sarawak to the British in 1946 marked the beginning of the development of the health of the Dayak community in Sarawak from 1946 until 1963. This was because the British were fully aware of the importance of taking care of the health of the Dayak community in Sarawak as they have played an important role in the economic sector for a long time. For that reason, the British have given a serious focus on strengthening the health system in Sarawak during the aforementioned period. Therefore, this research wants to study to what extent the health of the Dayak community in Sarawak developed between 1946 and 1963. The objective of this research is to identify the diseases that were faced by the Dayak community in Sarawak. Subsequently, this study will analyze the steps and actions that were taken by the British in strengthening the health system in Sarawak. Finally, this study will evaluate the effectiveness of the empowerment of the health system in Sarawak in the aforementioned period. This research has its own importance due to the lack of focus in discussions related to the development of the health of the Dayak community in Sarawak by previous researchers either inside or outside Malaysia. This research is a historical approach that adopts qualitative and quantitative methods. Materials and sources are obtained from the National Archives of Malaysia, the National Archives of Malaysia Sarawak State Branch, the Sarawak State Library, and the Universiti Malaya Main Library. This study found that the British succeeded in strengthening the health system in Sarawak from 1946 until 1963. This success is measured through the reduction of contagion of dangerous diseases, the increase in the number of people, the Dayak community beginning to believe in modern medicine, and et cetera.

Received: 25 Ogos 2022

Reviewed: 29 September 2022

Accepted: 2 Disember 2022