View report page

76
early death, or the birth of a healthy child living the number
of years allotted to man. Willesden of course cannot solve
these problems for the Universe, but as such problems arc
vast and intricate, Willesden can very well take its share
in helping to find the solution.
But the practical question before the Committee is the
saving of child life and the rearing of healthy children.
These two problems are inseparable. For every life that is
saved some other child is reared in a yet more healthy
manner. I would like the Committee to get clearly in. their
minds that a child is a living unit from the time that conception
occurs in the mother's womb. It will therefore be
readily understood and conceded that everything that helps
the mother helps the child. The first problem then is how
can the mother be helped. There are many methods. There
should be no industrial employment of women before and
for some time after childbirth. Indeed it would be to the
national advantage if there were no employment of married
women who are rearing families. The mother during the
period of bearing and nursing the child must be well fed.
Willesden has recognised this fact and has provided hot and
wholesome mid-day meals for expectant and nursing mothers.
907 such meals were provided during the eight weeks since
the Committee last met. Medical advice should be available
for the mother during pregnancy and a Municipal Antenatal
Clinic has been established at 9, Willesden Lane, for
expectant mothers. This has proved a boon and is being
increasingly made use of. Such clinics will also be associated
with the other clinics the Committee have in view.
Confinements should not take place in unsuitable dwellings.
The Council have under alteration a pavilion at the Municipal
Hospital which will take in necessitous cases of confinement,
where the home conditions are unsuitable. There
should be available for every woman at confinement the