Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg.

  • Johannesburg (South Africa)
Date:
[1919]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the public health and sanitary circumstances of Johannesburg. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/50 (page 12)
    m.o.h. 1916-19. XU. Care of Mother during* Lying-in Period, including (a) Provision of trained midwife, and, if necessary, of medical attendance; also of maternity nurse (after confinement), and, if necessary, of liome help. (b) Provision of food and milk, where necessary. (c) The confinement in a maternity hospital of women suffering from deformities or any other condition involving danger to the mother or infant. (d) The treatment in hospital of complications arising after- confinement. IV. Care of Infancy and Early Childhood, including (a) Home visitation of infants by Health Visitors. (b) Child Welfare Centres, including infant clinic (general, dental and ophthalmic), milk depot (where necessary), and creches or day nurseries (where necessary). (c) Children’s Hospitals, Convalescent Homes and Hostels for mothers and infants. It will he observed that this scheme is a notable development in the direction of what lias been termed “ Paternal Socialism.” In a Special Report addressed to the Public Health Committee in Septem¬ ber, 1919, each of the elements of the foregoing scheme was discussed in detail in regard to the extent or necessity of its application to Johannesburg. The summary and recommendations with which tins Report concluded are as follow: — 1. That representations be made to the Minister for Health as to the necessity for securing, as soon as possible, compulsory registration and supervision of midwives, at any rate in urban districts. 2. That appreciation be recorded of the commencement made by the Education Department in the instruction of the elder girls in the care and feeding of infants; that it be suggested that this course be made as thorough and practical as the resources of the Department will permit; and that the Council offer annually a special book prize or prizes in each school where the number to whom such instruction is given is sufficient. 3. (a) That whilst Miss Ellershaw has for many years done very admirable and unadvertised work in supplying midwifery nurses in the poorer central parts of Johannesburg, the time lias arrived for the community to undertake the provision of trained midwives and, when necessary, of medical attendance for necessitous lying-in women. (b) That the Council, therefore, approach the Hospital Board with regard to the creation in connection with the Queen Victoria Women’s Hospital of a District Midwifery Nursing Branch for the supply of midwifery nurses and medical aid to necessitous women, and, if necessary, make a grant-in-aid for the purpose. 4. That the Medical Officer of Health be empowered, on the recommenda¬ tion of the Health Visitors, to authorise, in his discretion, the pro¬ vision of home help for expectant or recently confined necessitous mothers. 5. That two additional Municipal Health Visitors be appointed, making four in all. 6. (a) That a larger number of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres are required, and that, with the consent of the School Board, one be opened at once, one afternoon a week, in the Government School, Eairview, another in the Vrededorp Government School, and one at a school in the Southern Suburbs. (b) That the Council make a suitable grant-in-aid towards the working expenses of the Welfare Centre at the New Market, for which it already furnishes free accommodation and the services of the Health Visitors; and that the issue of free tram tickets to necessitous mothers who attend the Sewing Classes be sanctioned.