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There are thirteen dining centres in the borough, and by
agreement with the Education Committee the mothers attend these
for dinners. Mothers and children attend at different times. The
menus are varied and suitable for the mothers. Special diet can
be arranged when such a recommendation is made by the doctor at
the clinic. The number of dinners provided in 1937 was 16,506,
as compared with 15,971 in 1936.
Birth control.
There has been no alteration in the arrangements
commenced in December, 1936, for the provision of this facility
to selected cases. Those women for whom further pregnancy would
be detrimental to health are referred by the clinic medical
officers to the East London Women's Welfare Centre, Burdett
Road, E.3, where they receive, free of charge, all necessary advice
and treatment. During 1937 the number of women who attended
the clinic under the Council's scheme was 41.
DRIED MILK.
Under the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1919, the
Council were empowered to grant milk to mothers and children,
and in January, 1920, they commenced to distribute liquid milk
through local purveyors. This scheme was operated on an income
basis, and the milk was supplied on voucher to expectant and
nursing mothers, and to children from one to five years. In
August, 1920, dried milk was substituted for liquid milk. The
supply was obtainable at the various centres, in accordance with
a scale of income approved by the Council.
In 1921 the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1919, was
revoked by the Ministry of Health Circular 185, and any scheme
for the supply of milk had to receive the sanction of the Minister
under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918. This circularstated
that milk could only be supplied at less than cost price in
necessitous cases to: —
(a) Nursing mothers.
(b) Expectant mothers in the last three months of pregnancy.
(c) Children up to 3 years of age, and exceptionally to children
between 3 and 5 years of age.
The dried milk is obtained in bulk and packed in 1 lb.
packets at the centre in West Ham Lane, and the milk has to be
a full-cream dried milk with a guaranteed fat content of 26 Per
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