Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health / City Council of Pretoria.

  • Pretoria (South Africa). Health Department.
Date:
[1929]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health / City Council of Pretoria. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/64 (page 9)
    J 9 During the year 93 women in poor circumstances have been supplied with milk for periods varying from one to twelve months. 1,452 Tins of dried milks (Lactogen and Glaxo) were sold at cost; 29 tins were sold at less than cost, and 73 tins were given free. 200 Lbs. of Virol were sold at cost and 70 lbs. were given free. 110 Tins of Lactagol were sold at cost and 100 tins were given free. 20 Bottles of Cod Liver Oil were given free. A large number of mothers are using Lactagol and find it very useful in increasing the flow of milk. District Midwife (Miss H. C. Fick) ;— Miss Fick was appointed to this new post and took up her duties on the 15th. January, 1929. In addition to the work of a midwife she assists the Health Visitor in Child Welfare Work. Midwifery cases attended, 5. Women unable to pay full fees only are attended. Pupil midwives from the two maternity hospitals accompany the District Midwife and in this way obtain part of their training. The number of cases attended so far is small, and it will be some time before the work is fully established. Application has been made to the S.A. Medical Council to make Pretoria Municipality a proclaimed area,” within which only registered midwives will be allowed to practice. If the application is granted, uncertificated and otherwise unsuitable women can be debarred. Coloured Children :— The deaths of Coloured children under 1 year of age numbered 148, comprising 120 Natives, 13 Eurafricans and 15 Asiatics. The Native infantile mortality rate is 451.12 per 1,000. 33 of the deaths were due to diarrhoeal disease, 39 to bronchitis and pneumonia, and 36 to congenital causes, Eurafricans; The infantile mortality rate is 168.8 per 1,000, which is just above last year’s rate of 163.2. If allowance were made for the fact that the number of births this year is only 77 as compared with 98 in the preceding year, the rate would be still more favourable. There were only two deaths due to diarrhoea, seven to bronchitis and pneumonia, and three to congenital causes. Asiatics; The infantile mortality rate is 140.19 per 1,000. Four of the deaths were due to diarrhoea, four to bronchitis and pneumonia, and five to congenital causes. The rate is considerably better than that of the previous year (166.67 per 1,000). Age 1—5 Years. There were 62 deaths at this age period. Of these 57 were Natives, 4 Eurafricans and one Asiatic. Of the Native deaths, 26 were due to diarrhoeal disease and 18 to bronchitis and pneumonia. Of the Eurafrican deaths, 2 were due to broncho-pneumonia, one to diarrhoea and one to measles. The Coloured Nurse-Midwife (Hermanus) employed by the Council carried out the following work ;— First visits to newly-born infants . 41 Subsequent visits to these infants . 930 Special visits to sick children .~ . 154 Deaths under 5 years investigated . 9 Confinement cases attended . . 89 Nurse Hermanus attends at the Child Welfare Bureau in the Locations every Wed¬ nesday afternoon.