M 67
Infants are of course seen and treated at all hospitals both as inpatients and outpatients and at all the Chinese Public Dispensaries.
259. With regard to the New Territories, Government has made provision for infant welfare at the six Government Dispensaries. The Government Travelling Dispensary which stops at road-side villages dispenses advice and medicines free.
260. The St. John Ambulance Brigade have established 9 centres in the New Territories where infants and mothers can receive treatment.
THE GOVERNMENT INFANT WELFARE CENTRES.
261. Infant welfare work received a further stimulus when the Violet Peel Health Centre was opened by His Excellency the Governor on May the 13th. This centre, the first of its kind erected in the Colony, occupies one corner of an open square reserved for a playground. It includes an Infant Welfare section, a school welfare section, a polyclinic and dispensary, and a Venereal Diseases clinic.
262. The Infant Welfare section was occupied on the day following the opening of the building. The accommodation provided, which includes a waiting room, a demonstration room, a doctor's consulting room, a crêche, a soup kitchen, servants' quarters, and lavatories, is much superior to that available in the shop houses formerly occupied.
263. The central position, the more imposing building, and the more commodious quarters had the effect of increasing the daily attendance until in July it had risen to an average of 82 per day. During the following three months, the daily attendance had to be limited owing to absence of some of the staff on sick leave or casual leave and there being no reliefs available.
264. The Venereal Diseases Clinic, which has its own entrance for the general public but which can be entered by a side door from the main building, provided a great convenience to the Infant Welfare Officer when mothers suffering from venereal disease came under her notice.
265. In Kowloon, Infant Welfare work continued in the rented quarters at 225 Nathan Road. The attendances were well maintained.