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54
This grant is to be administered by the Local Government Board or by the
Board of Education according to the lines on which the work is done. Circular
letters have been sent by these Boards to all Local Authorities and Infant Health
Societies outlining schemes of work which will be approved by them.
Two schemes are suggested
(1) The Local Government Board, taking into consideration the fact
that a considerable proportion of the loss of infant life is due to pre-natal
causes, recommends where desirable, the provision of adequate treatment
and systematic advice for expectant mothers, and for infants and children
up to school age, at a Clinic, or other suitable institution. The appointment
of Health Visitors would be necessary. Part of their duty would be the
visiting of expectant mothers and young children in the home.
(2) The Board of Education is anxious for the establishment and
extension of all work, having as its object, the education of mothers in the
simple rules of health to be observed in the up-bringing of infants and
children up to school age.
The work will include, primarily, home visiting by Health Visitors, to be
followed up by the institution of Infant Consultations (as distinct from Infant
Clinics), and by arrangement for courses of lectures for mothers on subjects relating
to the management of children and the home.
It may be noticed that both Boards lay stress on the importance of keeping
children under observation until such time as they are admitted to school. Formerly,
visiting has been discontinued at twelve months.
In Stepney, all the work done on behalf of the babies up to the present time
has been organised on methods similar to those suggested by the Board of
Education in its circular.
For the greater part of this work, the Borough is indebted to Voluntary Societies,
which are maintaining Schools for Mothers in different parts of Stepney.
The Stepney Mothers' and Babies' Welcome, Commercial Road, was opened
in July, 1909.
More than two years ago, the St. George-in-the-East and Wapping Infant
Welfare Association was formed.
The Jewish Maternity District Nursing and Sick-Room Helps Society set in
operation a Mothers' and Babies' Welcome in Cannon Street Road for the Jewish
population in Stepney.
Attached to all of these Schools for Mothers are Health Visitors, who visit the
babies as soon as possible after birth, and who follow up the first visit when the
conditions are such that re-visits will be profitable