[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Usk U.D.C.

  • Usk (Wales). Urban District Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Usk U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    2 €) “*— necessary stops taken in respect of adequate care of the Mothers, Unfortunately, too often many Expectant Mothers delay attending until late in pregnancy. It is now the practice of the Ante-Natal Clinic to make a routine blood examination of all patients fj&r detecting venereal diseases and for determining the pregnant mothers blood group. The educational side of Ante-Natal work is also of great importance and includes advice about general health,rest, diet,sleep,and comfort. In 1951, a monthly average of lo9 babies attended the Infant .'elf are Clinic, . elf are Food is obtainable at the Clinic with the exception of National Dried Milk, Cod Liver Oil, and Orange Juice, which are available at the Food Office, The principal cause of Infant Deaths has been Prematurity, adverse physical conditions and lack of care, which the older child can withstand, often proves fatal during the earlier months of life. The Infant Welfare Clinic has an important role in the care of the infant and young child. Babies are weighed weekly,are seen regularly by the Doctor, Health Education is stressed and informal talks are given to mothers in the principles of hygiene and healthy living. The prevailing Infant Mortality Rate calls for renewed efforts on the part of all concerned with the care of Infants, Towards the end of 1951, the routine skin testing of children under five years, with tuberculin was introduced at the Infant heIfare Clinic, The Mantoux and Jelly Tests are employed. Any positive reactors are referred to the Chest Physician, and all efforts are then concentrated in determining the source of infection This aspect of Infant Welfare Dork forms a part of the anti- tuberculosis scheme in operation through out the County of Monmout hshire. Vaccination against Small Pox and Immunisation against Diphtheria are also undertaken at the Clinic. The main object of Immunisation Schemes is to secure the each generation of Infants receives protection at an early age. It Is now recommended that an Infant should bo immunised against diphtheria at about the age of 8 months. The fall in the incidence of diphtheria in recent years is beyond reasonable doubt a remarkable preventive triumph mainly attributable to immunisation. Vaccination against Small Pox is advised when the child has obtained the age of three months, S3 nee compulsory vaccination has been abolished, Usk Urban District, like the rest of the Country, has followed the trend of a decrease in the numbers vaccinated ; from the public health point of view this Is regrettable. Small Pox continues to occur sporadically in various parts of the country and wo are never free from the possibility of an outbreak of this disease. Healthy living conditions, good sanitation, and general public health services are no substitute for vaccination in connection with the prevention and control of Small Pox, Since the National Health Service Act 1946, car‘1Ginto operation, vaccination against Small Pox and Immunisation against Diphtheria have been carried out free of charge both at the surgeries of General Practitioners and at the Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, Great encouragement is given to Mothers to have their children vaccinated, and immunised. It is gratifying to note that both vaccination and immunisation figures have improved in 1951.