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INFESTATION BY HEAD LICE.
During the year the new Lethane treatment was tried out
extensively with very successful results.
Advice and treatment is now available at all Clinics and
Welfare Centres. The unsatisfactory homes have been classified
with regard to cleanliness as suggested in Circulars issued by
the Ministry of Health and special supervision given where
necessary.
Great difficulty occurs in some homes on account of mothers
being at work and in consequence the work of the Health Visitors
and School Nurses has increased considerably
The contents of the Ministry of Health Circular 283l,
suggesting the steps to be taken to improve the general standard
of cleanliness and to combat infestation by lice, were brought
to the notice of all the Health Visiting and School Nursing
staffs.
CLINICS.
Dr.M.Sheppard reports as follows:-
welfare Centres.
The Welfare Centres were well attended during 1943, the
number of attendances being 44,164.
No increase in any deficiency disease was noted although
many mothers failed to take up their cod liver oil and orange
juice.
The toddlers did not show any appreciable effect of war
conditions.
The response to diphtheria immunisation has not been as good
as one might wish, in spite of facilities being offered at
each Welfare Centre.
The Vvar-time Cookery Demonstrations at the Centres are much
appreciated.
The thanks of the Committee are again due to the voluntary
workers who helped at the Centres.
The Ante-Natal Clinic.
The mothers at the Ante-Natal Clinic made 1,966 attendances
during the year, or an average of 11.3 per session.
Four sessions were held weekly most of the year to give extra
attention to those mothers who are evacuating under the Governmerrt
Scheme and, consequently, have no regular supervision from a
midwife. Normally, patients are seen three times, about the
16th., 27th., and 37th. week.
Post-Natal.
The number of Post-Natal examinations made was 105, which is
not at all a satisfactory proportion if maternal mobidity is to
be countered and, as with war conditions the mobidity is likely
to rise, it is a pity that more mothers do not take advantage
of this clinic.
Home Helps.
The Home Help Scheme was continued but the difficulty in
finding satisfactory people is great as so many suitable women
prefer other and more remunerative types of war work. This
difficulty is likely to continue until Home Helps are given a
recognised place in the country's Maternity Scheme.
35.