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67
The number of children found to be defective in the Centres
shows how this work is beginning to demonstrate the need for a
reduction of the sickness incidence of children, apart from the consideration
of infant mortality. The very high percentage of defects
in children at the beginning of school life again demonstrates
the essential need of a proper medical supervision and control of
the pre-school years of child life.
No statistics are available as to the number of mothers
requiring treatment at such an institution as that suggested, but
the evidence given me by the medical officers attending the Centres
and the Health Visiting staff generally is overwhelmingly
demonstrative of such a need. Many cases have been brought to
my notice of families where the mother is unable, through general
ill-health, to give proper attention to her children.
Re-Organisation of Centres.
In considering the re-organisation of the various Centres in
the town, the following matters have specially to be borne in mind,
although not every Centre will require to be fully provided with
every section of the accommodation mentioned: —
(1) The rapidly increasing attendance of mothers and infants
at the Centres in the purely maternal and child welfare
section of the work.
(2) The need for Subsidiary School Treatment Centres,
inclusive of one or two Subsidiary Dental Centres.
(3) The need of provision for the dental treatment of mothers.
(4) The need for Creches.
(5) The provision of Nursery Schools.
Infant Centres.
The attendances at the Infants' Centres are continuously
increasing. The attendances rose from 13,724 in 1917 to 22,500
in 1918. One part of the work which has hitherto not been properly
carried out is the instruction of mothers in classes as to the proper
rearing and clothing of infants, the making of children's garments,
etc. These are essentially parts of a Maternity and Infant Centre's
work and the present premises do not, in the majority of instances,
allow of this being effectively done.
School Treatment Centres.
The need of Subsidiary School Treatment Centres is, in my
opinion, demonstrated by the following figures which have been