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Details of the home help work carried out are as follows:-
1968
1967
Number of households assisted
1,719
1,752
Number of new applications received
758
820
Details of households assisted -
Maternity
37
59
Tuberculosis
12
11
Old people
1,371
1,385
Chronic sick
149
128
Early morning and evening help
12
20
Special help (problem families)
Nil
2
Mental disorders
6
5
Miscellaneous
132
142
Staff details -
Number of home helps employed
at end of year
139
149
Equivalent of whole-time staff
123.85
127.96
No charge is made for home help service in the households of expectant
mothers suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy and who are required by a
medical practitioner to rest at home or in hospital.
No case occurred during 1968, whereas there were six cases in 1967.
IMMUNISATION AND VACCINATION.
Measles Vaccination,
In addition to the programme of immunisation and vaccination of
children against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, smallpox and
tetanus, which continued to be carried out by the Council and general
practitioners, a programme of vaccination of susceptible children up to
and including the age of fifteen against measles was introduced in May
on the recommendation of the Minister of Health contained in Circular 9/68
dated 19th March, 1968.
At the outset, supplies of vaccine were limited and, during the months
of May, June and July, measles vaccination was to be offered only to
susceptible children between their fourth and seventh birthdays and to
susceptible children attending day nurseries and nursery schools or
living in residential establishments between their first and seventh
birthdays. Progress was such that it was also possible to complete a
programme of vaccination of children attending junior schools during the
summer term. Vaccination was also offered to susceptible children
attending secondary schools and to younger children attending welfare
centres early in the autumn before the beginning of the biennial measles
epidemic season, which was due to begin in the autumn of 1968.
General practitioners and head teachers were advised and combined
letters of invitation and consent forms were sent to parents concerned.
The numbers of children vaccinated against measles from the
beginning of the programme in May until the end of the year were as
follows:-