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INFESTATION.
The steps taken to combat infestation include cleanliness inspection
by School Nurse at schools once per term, treatment at School Clinic
(which includes the supply of Lethane and of steel combs) and
inspection and. treatment for Scabies at the Skin Clinic.
In addition educational work is carried out at all 7althamstow
schools and Day Nurseries.
An experienced worker who has recently returned to Walthamstow after
evacuation recalls a very marked improvement in the care and cleanliness
of Pre-school children as compared with their condition in 1939.
CLINICS.
Dr.Sheppard reports as follows:
Welfare Centres.
The Welfare Centres were well attended during 1944, the number of
attendances being 34,138.
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 been better.
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 1,984 attendances during
the year, or an average of 9.9 per session
Three sessions were held weekly and extra attention was given to those
mothers who evacuated under the Government 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 86, which is not
at all a satisfactory proportion if maternal morbidity is to be
countered and, as with war conditions the morbidity 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.
ANTE-NATAL and POST-NATAL SERVICES.

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