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41
CONVALESCENT TREATMENT
During the year it was possible to send 2 children away for a
period of convalescence.
ORTHOPÆDIC TREATMENT
During the course of the year 33 children were found to be
suffering from orthopaedic defects needing treatment or observation.
The following are the defects from which they suffered :—
Genu valgum 13
Pes planus 4
Toe deformity 2
Genu varum 10
Metatarsus Varus 1
Equinus Varus 1
Valgus Ankles 2
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION
The campaign for the immunisation of children against
diphtheria continued throughout the year and 1,494 children under
the age of five years were immunised for the first time.
When a child attains the age of eight months, it is the practice
to send him a card to invite him to attend at one of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Clinics, not only to be medically examined, but
also to be immunised against diphtheria. It is pleasing to note that
many of these invitations are accepted.
All children on reaching the age of years are invited, by
postcard, to attend a Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic to be
immunised or to receive a supplementary reinforcing dose.
In addition to the above, 87 children between the ages of 5
and 14 years were also immunised for the first time.
Although this routine method of notification to attend the
Clinics for immunisation is important, the most successful propaganda
is found to be by personal advice, and the Medical Officers
and Health Visitors are continually bringing to the notice of parents
the importance and the benefits to be gained therefrom.
In addition to the above numbers of children who were
immunised for the first time, 701 received reinforcing doses which
are important in order to maintain a high level of immunity
amongst the child population.
The importance of this reinforcing dose prior to school entry,
and also about the age of 10 years, is becoming more apparent.