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69
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Extension of the work in the following directions is urgently
necessary—
Centres.—Reports from the Centres show that the work
carried out is meeting a great need, but that the Centres are inadequate
for the work required. There are too few Centres,
which results in overcrowding, and at Northwold Road Infant
Welfare Centre and Brooksby's Walk Ante-natal Centre there is
particular need for additional Clinics
Infectious Disease.— No attempt can be made under present
conditions to control non-notifiable infectious disease, such as
Measles, Whooping Cough and Epidemic Diarrhoea, which are
responsible for so great an infant mortality. The school
authorities forwarded notifications during the year of 334 children
absent from school on account of Measles.
It is practically impossible to attempt the routine visiting
of these cases. Only urgent cases brought to notice can be
dealt with. The King's Home for Nurses renders the greatest
assistance in regard to these urgent cases, but if one compares
the number assisted in this way with the number reported from
schools (and school age is much less dangerous than infancy
as regards Measles), it is evident that this disease alone requires
further measures to bring about any degree of control.
The Health Visiting Staff is barely able to carry out the duties
as regards notification of births and Centre work, and any additional
duties would mean the relinquishing of work now being
performed.
During the past year only four deaths occurred from Measles,
but the total number of cases was small as compared with the
previous year, when 79 deaths were recorded, and there was an
increase of 37 in the deaths under 1 year of age from Epidemic
Diarrhoea.