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A seventh Nursery which was nearing completion was
badly damaged by a flying bomb. The Ministry decided
not to complete this Nursery, and with alteration of
war conditions its need became less apparent.
The Home Help Scheme which has been in operation
in the Borough since 1936 is restricted by legislation
to homes in which there is a nursing or expectant mother
or child under the age of 5 years. Towards the end of
1944 the Ministry of Health issued a Circular empowering
the Council as a Welfare Authority to extend the
Home Help Scheme to sick and infirm persons whether
through old age or otherwise. There is a need for this
service, but shortage of supply of reliable workers has
made inauguration of the Domestic Help Scheme
difficult.
During the year 5 cases only of Diphtheria were
notified, of these one child died. This child had not
been immunised. It is hoped that with the greater
stabilization of the child population in the Borough the
campaign against this disease may be facilitated and
that soon no child will pass its first birthday without
having received protective inoculation. A booster dose
is also recommended when the child reaches the age of
5, that is, when school life is due to commence and it
will be mixing with many new playfellows.
During the year 853 children were immunised, but
a further 42 failed to complete their course. The percentage
in the Borough in 1944 of children under the
age of 5 who had been immunised was 73. We must not
be satisfied until every child has been given the protection
which scientists have made possible.
206 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified during the
year. The disease was again mild in character and no
deaths occurred, but of 214 cases of Whooping Cough, 2
proved fatal, both of these having been complicated with
pneumonia and neither having been inoculated against
the disease.
Measles figures were higher than for any other infectious
disease, but of the 342 cases notified there were
no deaths.
Scabies became notifiable on 1st November, 1943,
and during 1944 492 cases were notified. This in an in-
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