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737
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
All agencies that improve the health of the people indirectly
tend to aid Maternity and Child Welfare. But under the Maternity
and Child Welfare Act of 1918 the Council is given powers to provide
medically controlled service definitely directed to the care of children
under five years, and to the assistance of mothers during the expectant
and nursing periods.
The effective agents are the three health visitors who visit in
the homes, and give advice and conduct "weighing" sessions for
infants at the two Centres. The Medical Officer of Health himself
sees babies at two "doctors" sessions (now three) weekly. There is
a weekly session for Ante-natal and post-natal examination and
advice conducted by a woman physician, and a weekly dental
clinic for expectant and nursing mothers, and children under five.
Certain statistics for 1927 may now be presented :
1. Visits Paid by the three Health Visitors—
To expectant mothers—
(1) First Visits, 54 (2) Total Visits, 69
To infants under 1—
(1) First Visits, 979 (2) Total Visits, 4,242
To Children, 1—5—
(1) First Visits, 48 (2) Total Visits, 1,022
The total of 5,333 visits compares favourably with the past
years, during which the visits have increased from 4,115 in 1922 to
5,251 in 1926.
2. Attendances at the Infant Welfare Sessions.—
During the year there was a total attendance of 7,979 infants and
children under five at 302 sessions— an average of 26.4. This