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115
In Schools
Mothercraft classes continue to be given by Health Visitors
and School Sisters in a variety of schools including three Comprehensive
schools, a school for educationally subnormal girls and a
school for maladjusted children.
Informal talks on personal hygiene were given to children
of all age groups during regular hygiene surveys. Posters and
leaflets were displayed in all Treatment Centres and, where
possible, in School medical rooms. Total number of sessions
given throughout the year was 413.
In 1969, a new venture was started in three primary schools
in the Abbey Wood area. This consisted of the showing of films
on menstruation to eight year old children, mothers being given
the opportunity to be present if they wished. A period for
questions and answers followed each showing. Evening sessions
were later arranged for parents to see the same film—this was
followed by discussions led by a team of teachers, clergy, health
visitor and school sister. This proved so successful that it is
hoped a wider range of topics will be included in future programmes.
Child Health Clinics
Sessions at Child Health centres continued satisfactorily during
the year although with a continuing change in emphasis. Purposes
and aims of the Child Health Service at the end of the 1960s are
directed towards seeking out mental and physical disabilities
at the earliest moment in order to provide adequate care and
treatment for the child and support for its family before the
situation gets out of hand and when, possibly, no treatment or
support can be of any use. Close liaison with other services and
with general practitioners and paediatricians is very necessary
and, during 1969, this had increased satisfactorily though there is
still much work to be done before complete integration is achieved.
Statistics for 1969 relating to Child Health Clinics are given in
the following table:—
A ttendances
No. of Children born in 1969 2,913
No. of Children bom in 1968 3,055
No. of Children born in 1965/67 4,255
10,223