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WELFARE FOODS
The distribution of Welfare Foods continued on the lines indicated in
the last report, being undertaken entirely by members of the Women's
Voluntary Services.
Foods are available at all the Child Welfare Centres in the Borough
during hours of sessions and also at the W.V.S. Headquarters, 9 Cambridge
Park, Wanstead, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
My sincere thanks are due to the Women's Voluntary Service's
members for the great assistance they give by undertaking this service.
During the year the Government amended the scheme in connection
with the distribution of Welfare Foods imposing a charge for the supply
of Vitamin tablets and Cod Liver Oil which had previously been
supplied free, and increased the price of Orange Juice. The prices for
these commodities are now 6d. for the vitamin tablets, 1/- for the Cod
Liver Oil and l/6d. for Orange Juice.
The result of the introduction of these prices has produced a considerable
reduction in the take-up of Cod Liver Oil and, to a more
limited extent, Orange Juice.
At the end of the year at the request of the Ministry of Health an
emergency scheme was prepared to bring into operation the supply of
processed milk to all infants under one year of age should this be
required in connection with the results of Russian nuclear tests.
VITAL STATISTICS
Borough of England and
Wanstead & Woodford Wales
Live birth rate per 1,000 population 13.07 17.4
Still birth rate per 1,000 population 0.34 0.16
Infant Mortality Rate per 1,000
21.6 17.5
NEO NATAL MORTALITY
The neo-natal mortality is the number of infants dying under one
month per 1,000 live births. During 1961 9 infants died in the first
four weeks of life, a rate of 11.24.
CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS
During 1961, 37 premature infants were born to residents in the
Borough, 9 of these births taking place at home and 28 in hospital or
nursing home. 6 of the 9 born at home were alive at the end of one
month. Of the 28 born in hospital or private nursing home 24 survived.
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