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81
[1936
EAST ISLINGTON MOTHERS' AND BABIES' WELFARE CENTRE
Centre, 32, Drayton Park, N.5.
Branch, at Highbury Quadrant Mission Hall, Hurlock Street, N.5.
The routine work of the Centre and Branch has been carried out with quiet
efficiency and attention to detail. The aim of all workers is to educate the mothers
in the physical and mental care of their children and teach them to take adequate
care of their own health.
During 1935-1936 we started a Clinic for Immunisation against Diphtheria.
During the twelve months in which it functioned 254 children were successfully
immunised and, at the end of this time, we were glad to avail ourselves of the weekly
Municipal Clinic which had then been established.
In the Autumn of 1936 we anticipated the campaign for Physical Fitness by
starting a "Keep Fit Class" for Mothers of Toddlers, under the auspices of the Central
Council of Recreative Physical Training. This experiment was not altogether a
success for, although a few mothers were very keen, some found it difficult to spare
the time to attend; others were too tired after their daily work for further physical
exertion and felt that such leisure as they had could be more profitably spent in rest.
Very few of them are in an A1 condition, and it is for this reason that we are still
absorbed in the question of the health of the expectant and nursing mother. One
of the results of the study of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity has been to establish
the assumption that some of the ills, which at times attend pregnancy, can be
attributed to certain deficiences in diet, and it is thought that treatment directed
to the removal of these deficiencies might prove a factor in diminishing the toll of
Maternal Mortality and Morbidity.
These conclusions have been developed into a practical scheme by the extension
of our free dinners to all necessitous expectant and nursing mothers in East Islington,
whether attending the Centre or not. The Local Authorities, Public Assistance
Committees, the Hospital Almoners and Midwives have all been notified of this
arrangement.
Although 666 dinners were given to 42 nursing and expectant mothers during
the year (in addition to 152 dinners to toddlers) we feel that there is a much larger
number whose health would be improved by the provision of a nutritious daily meal.
There is no doubt that mothers find it difficult to leave home in the middle of the day,
although the hour of 1.45 p.m. was chosen as being the most convenient for them.
In addition to the dinners, we are arranging to give ½lb. of Marmite each month to
every expectant mother attending the Centre during the last three months of
pregnancy.
As we are concerned with the mental as well as the physical well-being of
children under five, we are hoping to hove regular clinics for difficult children at the
Centre sponsored by the Child Guidance Clinic.
WEST ISLINGTON INFANT WELFARE CENTRE.
Centre, 42 & 44, Richmond Road, N.l.
Branch, held at St. Luke's Mission Hall, Goodinge Road, N. 7.
The volume of work done, as measured by statistics of visits and attendances,
shows an increase over the preceding year,