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immunisation, and this procedure despite the willing co-operation
of the Teachers has not always been entirely successful.
We are now offering immunisation to children at the age of
4½ years at our Welfare Clinics where parents are invited to attend
with their children for a final routine examination before they
are admitted to school. I think this procedure will be more
successful and that our children will thus enter school fully
protected against Diphtheria.
We still continue to receive requests that we should immunize
children against whooping cough and we meet this request when
we receive it. In the present light of our knowledge and of the
results that can be achieved I have not considered it my duty to
advise the Council that it should conduct a campaign for protection
against this disease by means of inoculation.
I have remarked in previous Reports that the work of the
Department has continued as in previous years. This has been
expected and has not called for comment. In these days however,
to be able to make such a remark is, I would assure you, an indication
that innumerable difficulties have been overcome to secure
continuity of previous work and the carrying out of the essential
functions of the Department.
Throughout the year I had no Deputy. Excellent as has been
the help I have received from the Assistant Medical Officers, the
absence of a Deputy has made my work both difficult and onerous.
Again it must be remembered that the year commenced with two
Assistant Medical Officers, one of whom had been appointed in
November, 1942, another in February, 1943, whilst the third was
appointed and commenced her duties in May, 1943. There has
been therefore an almost complete change in the Medical Staff
during the year.
On the clerical side only five members of the Staff are either
permanent officials of the Council or temporary officials whose
status has been altered on account of marriage. Whilst paying
tribute to them for their work I think it only fair to recognise the
excellent services of the temporary Staff who have given us sound
and solid assistance.
It will be noted that Scarlet Fever has increased from 257 to
408 cases and Measles from 445 to 1,463. Both diseases were of
a reasonably mild character and no death was recorded as arising
from Scarlet Fever.