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37
INFANT WELFARE CENTRES
It was not possible to continue the small subsidiary centre
at the northern part of the New Addington Estate, as the school
premises were needed for other purposes. The numbers attending
did not justify a special building and no other suitable
accommodation could be found.
At other centres and especially at New Addington, developments
in group education were actively pursued. At Waddon,
special homecraft classes with emphasis on the making of clothes
for children proved most successful, thanks to the enthusiasm of
the health visitor concerned and the skill of a voluntary worker
Towards the end of the year, poliomyelitis vaccination was
added to the other immunisation procedures available at infant
welfare centres. It has so far been confined to some of the
centres only, but it is anticipated that in the future, it will
form part of the ordinary infant welfare centre routine.
For details regarding attendances see Appendix, page 116.
Welfare Foods
The W. V. S. continued issues from their central office
throughout the week and on Saturday mornings, and supplies were
available at all Infant Welfare Centres while in session. Total
issues made during the year were: -
National Dried Milk 73,664
Ood Liver Oil 14,744
Vitamins A and D (for Expectant
Mothers) 13,185
Orange Juice 129,644
There was a further fall in the sale of national dried milk
and cod liver oil. Contributory causes are earlier weaning and
reluctance to retrieve milk tokens from dairymen. In the event
of failure of lactation, the interim period before weaning is
easily covered by the purchase without formalities of proprietary
brands of dried milk. Such purchases balanced against
the continued receipt of liquid milk at reduced cost make little
difference to the total family budget.
Cod liver oil has never been popular and there is a marked
Reference for more pleasant Vitamin D products, especially
amongst the mothers most careful in the feeding of their infants