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During the year under review 20,629 inspections were made in these surveys. Nine
cases were referred to the medical officers for further consideration of their nutritional
state but none were found to be suffering from malnutrition. This is the sixth year in
succession in which this gratifying result has obtained, and fits in with the general
pattern of Improved general condition.
NUTRITION SURVEYS
Number of inspections 20,629
Referred to school doctors (nutritional grounds) 9
Referred to school doctors (other conditions)
Obesity 8
Ear defects 2
Orthopaedic conditions 2
Defective vision and squint 2
Other c and it ions 19
Totals 42
CLEANLINESS. Routine cleanliness surveys are carried out each term. The numbers
found to be infested at these surveys are augmented by others who are discovered at
periodic or special medical inspections. The numbers found at periodic medical inspection
are very few, the main reason being that parents receive notice of this examination and
therefore have time to see that their children are presented In a satisfactory condition.
In the case of cleanliness or hygiene inspections carried out by the school nurses neither
the parents nor the children receive notice of the inspection, and the scholars are found
in the condition In which they habitually attend school. While the responsibility of
cleansing is upon the parents, children found to be Infested are followed up until the
school nurse is satisfied that they are clean.
During the year 68,974 inspections were made at these cleanliness surveys and 765
instances of infestation found. On the basis of a school population of 29,487 this gives
a proportion of uncleanllness of 2,59 Per cent which compares with 2.95 per cent in 1954
calculated in the same way on a school population of 29,707. This number refers to
Individual children, because however many times a child is found dirty in the year, it is
only recorded as one case. There are many instances of recurrent infestations in the same
children, and these persistent offenders provide the School Health Service with one of its
most pressing problems. Infestation in such children can never be eradicated until the
whole family is freed from it.
The revised procedure for dealing with Infestation in school children adopted by
the Education Committee in 1953 and described in the annual report for that year, was
continued throughout 1955. The following figures relate to the work done during this
period:-
Total number of Individual pupils found to be infested 765
Total of individual pupils In respect of whom cleansing
Notices were issued (Section 54(2) Education Act, 1944) 275
Total of Individual pupils in respect of whom cleansing
Orders were issued (Section 54(3) Education Act, 1944) 48
115