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28
the year. In April, 1943, Vitamin A and D tablets
were made available to expectant mothers, in the
place of cod liver oil, where preferred.
An increase was noted in the numbers taking
advantage of the supplies of fruit juices but the
numbers of both expectant mothers and children
availing themselves of the facilities for obtaining cod
liver oil or Vitamin A and D tablets continued to be
comparatively low, i.e. about 30% of the number
eligible—in spite of the efforts of your officers to
increase the take-up of those products.
(k) Adoption of Children.
On the 1st June, 1943, the Adoption of Children
(Regulation) Act, 1939, came into operation.
Section 7 of this Act imposes the duty upon any
person, other than the parent or guardian of a child
or the person with whom a child has been placed,
who participates in the arrangements for the placing
of the child to notify in writing the Welfare Authority
of the area in which the child is to be placed. No such
notification was received during 1943, although
according to information received by your officers
in two cases a private individual was concerned in
the arrangements.
(1) Infestation by Head Lice.
In July Circular 2831 was received from the
Ministry dealing with the promotion of cleanliness
and elimination of verminous conditions amongst
mothers and children under the age of five years.
In order to relieve the Health Visitors of some of
their Clinic duties and to give them more time to
concentrate on this work, it was decided to appoint