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communication from the Local Government Board upon the subject of arrangements
for maternity and child welfare in the direction of clinics, dispensaries and
other measures primarily concerned with the provision of medical and surgical
advice and treatment was at the end of the year under the consideration of the
Health Committee. Acting upon a report from,the Committee, the Council
entered into an agreement with the owners of No. 152, Kingsland Road, and these
premises were taken for the purposes of a maternity and child welfare Centre for
the Borough. The accommodation thus provided consists of four rooms, with a
basement for the purposes of the work of the Centre, and two rooms for the caretaker
resident on the premises. In conjunction with the Women's League of
Service arrangements were made for the provision of dinners at the Centre for
nursing and expectant mothers. The expenses in connection with these dinners are
being most generously defrayed by the League. The necessary equipment having
been provided, the Centre was opened for work early in May by the Mayor. Two
afternoons have been assigned for the weighing of babies and talks to mothers, and one
for demonstrations in the making of serviceable garments for mothers and children
by the Health Visitors and voluntary assistants. The dining hour is between 1.30
and 2.30 p.m. Usually about 30 nursing and expectant mothers attend daily
for as long as the dinners appear necessary. Where it can be afforded a small
charge of a penny or twopence is made. Cases for the dinners are recommended
by the Health Visitors. Their selections are largely influenced by the home
circumstances of the women. Children brought to the Centre are excluded from
the dining room. They are taken care of by voluntary helpers in the creche
furnished for the purpose, the mothers being thus enabled to have a good substantial
meal in peace and comfort daily, a matter of no small importance as regards the
welfare both of mother and child. In this connection the valuable assistance
of the voluntary helpers mentioned must be gratefully acknowledged.
Up to the end of the year the number of infants brought to the Centre for
Weighing was 108 and the number of weighings was 596, giving an average of
about 5 per infant. The number of nursing mothers was 111 and there were
28 ante-natal cases. Some 3,205 dinners were served, and 1,662 attendances were
recorded for the creche of which 1,262 were of children in arms.
The arrangement of the Centre and the work carried on thereat is, subject
to instructions from the Health Committee, in the hands of a Committee appointed
Under powers conferred on local authorities by the Notification of Births (Extension)
Act, 1915. As at present constituted the Committee consists of representatives
of the Borough Council and of the Women's League of Service, and is
designated the Maternity Centre Committee.
The deaths of children aged one to five years numbered 298, so that
altogether 740 or 35'7 per cent, of the total number of deaths at all ages were of
children under five years of age.