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18.
In this connection, I asked the Assistant Medical Officers who are in daily
personal contact with the mothers and children, for their observations on the general
effect of the war on the physical and mental welfare of the children, with special
reference to their nutrition and to the effect of the provision of school meals and milk
Their observations were as follows:-
"I feel sure that there is a general improvement .In the nutrition
of the school child; but without milk and school meals it certainly
would not have been so.
On the other hand, we are certainly getting more "difficult or
problem" children referred to us and in many cases the difficulties
are attributed to lack of care or parental control."
"The general health of the school children is quite asg:iod a 3 before
the war, in some cases it is better for the following reasons:-
1. There is less unemployment.
2. Wages are higher.
3. School meals.
4. British Restaurants f 3ed. many of the children.
5. The provision of cheap milk for the children under 5 years
of age has resulted in an improvement in the physical
condition of entrants into the Public iHementary Schools.
Against this there is a small number of children who are in a
worse position than before the war, e.g. those vrtio were oomfortably
off; father being in the army has reduced the family income
mother strives to keep up the former standard on a smaller income
and fails. Result - nervous tension and unhaypiness leading to
debility.
Skins:- Improvement in Scabies.
Clothing:- Difficulty in getting sufficient cheap clothes for
growing children."
"The general impression of the health of the children for 1942 is as
follows:-
The pre-war level of nutrition is maintained, and in many cases is
improved.
The condition of the new born baby shows considerable improvement,
especially in those cases where the pre-war income was small or
fluctuating and where the ante-natal mother is now having vitamins
and additional food during pregnancy.
T^ere is a definite improvement in the poorer type of child who is
now having regular school dinners. A great many children, however,
continuo to suffer from lacic of appetite, fatigue and slack posture,
duo to late bed times and unsatisfactory supervision at home.
Associated with this lack of supervision in the home is the
accompanying wastage of school and clinic time expended on "dirt
diseases", scabies and impetigo, septic sores and. vermin.
In some schools marked improvement has followed time spent by the
teaching staff on matters of health and cleanliness."