XN000022-1974-10-27 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1974.

IN 1973, SHE SAID STATISTICS SHOWED THAT NO BABY DIED OF DIPHTHERIA AND POLIOMYELITIS. +THIS COMPARES FAVOURABLY WITH FIGURES OF 10 YEARS AGO WHEN 86 DEATHS WERE CAUSED BY DIPHTHERIA. AND FOUR BY POLIOMYELITIS.+ DEATHS FROM MEASLES ALSO SHOVED À CONSIDERABLE DECREASE FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF MEASLES VACCINATION SINCE THE END OF 1967.

THIS EDUCATION PROGRAMME, SHE ADDED, IS COUPLED WITH

THE FACT THAT PROSPECTIVE MOTHERS ARE ADVISED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ANTE-NATAL CARE, THUS MAXIMISING THEIR CHANCE OF GIVING BIRTH TO HEALTHY BABIES.

DURING THEIR FIRST VISITS TO THESE CLINICS, NEW BORN BABIES HAVE TO UNDERGO COMPLETE PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, WHICH ARE REPEATED AFTER TWO YEARS. THE PURPOSE IS TO DETECT, AT THE EARLIEST INSTANCE, ANY PHYSICAL ABNORMALITY OF THE BABIES, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE LEADING HEALTHY LIVES.

IN ADDITION, BABIES HAVE TO TAKE A DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING TEST WHEN THEY ARE SIX WEEKS OLD, IN THE COURSE OF WHICH THEIR HEARING AND SEEING FACULTIES ARE CHECKED.

A SPEECH TEST IS SET FOR BABIES ONE AND A HALF YEARS OLD. DEFECTIVE CASES WILL BE REFERRED TO SPECIALISTS AFTER THREE REPEATED TESTS SET AT THREE-HONTH INTERVALS.

THIS SERIES OF EXAMINATION WILL DETECT ANY PHYSICAL ABNORMALITY OR UNDER-DEVELOPMENT AT AN EARLY STAGE SO THAT CORRECTIVE MEASURES CAN BE EFFECTIVELY TAKEN.

THEREFORE

MANY MOTHERS DO NOT KNOW THE CORRECT WAY TO APPLY DRESSING OF THE UMBILICAL CORDS OF NEW BORN BABIES. BATHING SERVICE WAS INTRODUCED.

A COMPLETE IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS, SMALLPOX, DIPHTHERIA, WHOOPING COUGH, TETANUS, POLIOMYELITIS AND MEASLES IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE AT THE CLINICS FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN.

BABIES ARE WEIGHED EVERY WEEK DURING THE FIRST

THREE MONTHS TO CHECK IF THEY ARE GROWING AT THE NORMAL RATE OF FOUR TO EIGHT OUNCES PER WEEK. IF THE GROWTH RATE IS NOT SATISFACTORY, WAYS OF BRINGING UP THE BABIES WOULD BE REVIEWED AND CORRECTED.

WHEN THE BABIES ARE SIX MONTHS OLD WEIGHTS ARE TAKEN EVERY TWO WEEKS, AND AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME, WEIGHING BECOMES A HONTHLY ROUTINE.

TODDLERS OF TWO OR ABOVE VISIT THE CLINICS TWO TO FOUR TIMES PER YEAR. THE SERVICE IS TERMINATED WHEN THEY REACH FIVE YEARS OLD.

ADVICE ON FAMILY PLANNING AND BIRTH CONTROL IS ALSO OFFERED AT THE CLINICS FOR MARRIED COUPLES AS WELL AS YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT TO GET MARRIED.

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