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84
Infant Life Protection.
On the 1st January, 1936, one foster mother remained on the register.
During the year three others were added to the register and two were removed;
leaving two registered foster mothers in the Borough at the 31st December, 1936,
having the care of three children. The removals were for the following reasons: —
Child removed to the care of parent 2
Under the arrangement made with the London County Council the School
Care Committee is notified when a foster child reaches the age of nine years, at
which age supervision under the Children Acts ceases.
Notification is also sent to the Medical Officer of Health of the district concerned
when foster children are removed into another area to the care of the
parent, to another foster mother, or with the same foster mother.
Applications are received from time to time from parents and others desirous
of placing children with suitable foster mothers, but much difficulty is experienced
in finding suitable homes where foster children can be received. In some cases it
has been possible to effect satisfactory arrangements for the purpose through the
co-operation of the Child Guidance Council.
Birth Control.
Arrangements were made for contraceptive advice to be available for married
women attending the Council's Centres in cases where further pregnancy would be
injurious to health. The advice is to be given only where recommended by the
Medical Officers of the Centres and approved by the Medical Officer of Health. The
facilities offered by a voluntary hospital and a voluntary birth control clinic are
utilised. Two cases were referred for such advice in 1936.
Health and Baby Week.
Health Week, with which Baby Week was combined, was observed in the
Borough during the week 4th to 10th October, 1936.
With a view to economy the programme was limited to the following: —
Co-operation with the School Organisations.
Arrangements were made for children attending elementary schools in the
Borough to write answers to a series of questions, on health topics, prizes being
awarded to the girl and boy writing the best answers in each school. The questions
were divided into two sets, one for children in senior departments and one for
those attending junior departments The Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor and Mrs.
H. W. Langdon) kindly entertained to tea the prize winners and four other children
from each school (two girls and two boys) whose answers were adjudged as next
best to those of the prize winners. We are much indebted to the Head Teachers
and staffs of the various schools for their invaluable help and co-operation in thus
establishing in the minds of the children an interest in health.