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Maternity and Child Welfare Centre.—The Municipal
Centre at Brook Road has been open for Maternity and Child
Welfare work throughout the year 1918, with the exception of
Christmas, Easter and Whitsun weeks.
The Centre was open for weighings and consultations twice
weekly; and from June till the end of the year for three sessions a
week from January to June. In addition to this, meetings were
held for Mothers each week, when a short health talk, followed
by a debate, was given by the Health Visitor. The Voluntary
Workers supervise the sewing class, where Mothers are instructed
in the making of suitable garments for their children.
At the beginning of the year the old Register was revised.
All names of those who had not attended for a period of three
months were erased. The number on the Register at the beginning
of the year was 285, and at the end 532.
The total number of attendances during the year was 4,214;
the highest on any one day 112; the lowest 16, and the average
598. The h'ghest number of infants seen by the Doctor on
any one day was 32, and the average 22'5. The highest number
of Mothers seen on any one day lias been 5 pre-natal, 14 postnatal.
Extension of Work.—A steady, increase in the number of
Mothers and Children attending the consultations and weighings
resulted; in such numbers that it was found impossible to cope
with the work in two weekly sessions, and since many of the
Mothers! came from a distance it was deemed advisable on the
1st June, 1918, to open a Centre in a new area. The Harringay
district was decided on, and premises were, acquired at 22,
Wightman Road, which would serve the eastern and southern
portions of the Borough.
The attendance, here at the first session was 26, and the
number on the register at the end of September was 44
It was found that the development did not decrease the work
done at the original Centre in Brook Road, though it greatly
enlarged the scope and efficiency of the work generally, giving
evidence, of the fact proved elsewhere that it is always advantageous
to decentralise, this work.