281. The following were the most prevalent ailments:-
Malnutrition.
Conjunctivitis.
Bronchitis.
Feeding disorders.
Thrush.
Eczema and skin troubles.
Multiple boils.
282. All cases which would ordinarily be treated in Outpatient Department were treated at the Centre. A limited number of infants are kept at the Centre, five cots being allotted for this purpose. Cases which required inpatient hospital treatment were recommended for admission to the hospital.
283. To those who do not understand the local situation it is necessary to explain that advice without treatment offers little attraction to the Chinese mothers and an infant welfare centre in Hong Kong without facilities for treatment would be little patronised.
284. The majority of infants seen at the Centre for the first time were suffering from incorrect feeding in addition to the disease for which they were brought for treatment.
The feeding of infants who are not taking their mothers' milk presents difficulties. In some cases the parents can afford to buy an inferior quality of condensed milk and in others they cannot afford milk of any kind. Cases of poverty are referred to the Society for the Protection of Children who assist so far as their funds allow. The co-operation of this Society has been most valuable.
285. The Centre has been an unqualified success and its popularity is on the increase. The accommodation is now too small for the work being done. When the new Health Centre, which has been promised by certain benevolent Chinese gentlemen, is established in the neighbourhood it will contain adequate accommodation for this branch of public health activity.
There can be no doubt that similar institutions conducted on parallel lines would be popular in other districts.
THE TUNG WAH INFANT WELFARE CENTRE.
286. The Tung Wah Infant Welfare Centre is held every Wednesday morning under the supervision of the Western trained medical officers. The babies are weighed and the mothers advised concerning feeding and care of infants. The total number of attendances was 1,270, that for 1932 was 1,103.