Annual report on the Medical Department / Straits Settlements.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1934]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Medical Department / Straits Settlements. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/78 (page 25)
    Training and Work of Mid wives Regular courses of training for nurses and Asiatic midwives are provided at the Government Maternity Hospitals in Singapore, Penang and Malacca. In addition, a number of nurses and midwives are trained at the St. Andrew’s Mission Hospital, Singapore. Under the Midwives Ordinance, midwives are divided into three classes, viz : Class A midwives who comprise women with sufficient education in English to undergo 12 months theoretical and practical training followed by an examination, of a standard similar to that required by the C.M.B., which entitles successful candidates to a diploma. Class B mid wives who comprise Asiatics of a lower standard of education enabling them to undergo practical training, given in the Malay language and by demonstration, for six or nine months, followed by an oral and practical examination. Class C midwives comprising those who were in regular practice as mid wives for a period of one year before the date of introduction of the Midwives Ordinance. The number of midwives in this class is steadily diminishing and their places are being taken by Class B midwives. Every endeavour is made to induce Malay women from the villages to enter for the course of training framed for Class B mid wives with a view to practising orthodox midwifery on their return to the villages. It is hoped in this way gradually to displace the large number of unqualified Malay and other Asiatic midwives now practising highly objectionable and injurious methods of primitive midwifery in rural areas. The number of registered midwives in the Colony in 1934 was: — Singapore Penang Malacca Class A 180 74 19 Class B 3S6 29S 27 Class C 32 167 182 598 539 228 Infant and Child Welfare Services These services are conducted by the Municipalities in the towns of Singapore, Penang and Malacca, by the Singapore Child Welfare Society in Singapore and by the Government Medical Department in the rural areas of each Settlement. A .—IN MUNICIPAEITIES Infants up to the age of 12 months are attended at the three Singapore Municipal Clinics. During the year 14,258 new infants were placed on the registers of the infant welfare clinics, this figure represents, 82.28 per cent, of the total births in the city. The total number of attendances was 42,247 as compared with 49,237 in the previous year. The District Sister and Staff Nurses paid a total of 19,946 visits to homes, of these 15,491 were first visits to newly born babies. The Penang Municipality employs two European Health Sisters. In Malacca two Assistant Health Visitors are employed, under the supervision of a Health Sister who is the Government Health Sister but is also employed part time by the Municipality. B.—THE SINGAPORE CHILD WELFARE SOCIETY This Society is supported by subscriptions and donations and by Government and Municipal grants. The Society supports two clinics and two creches. Children between one and five years of age are treated free at these clinics. The Municipal clinic which treats babies up to the age of 12 months, passes to the Society’s care children over one year of age who require attention. The Society employs two qualified European Matrons and four locally trained Chinese nurses all whom, after a morning’s work at the clinics and creche, carry out a routine of house to house visiting in slum districts. The total number of attendances was 49,230 as against 55,854 in 1933. All children needing treatment which cannot be given at the clinics are sent to hospital, the majority being sent to St. Andrew’s Mission Hospital. Minto Road Creche.—The total number of attendance was 8,440 a decrease of 619 over 1933, due undoubtedly to the curtailing of work at certain factories. The total number of new admissions was 76 as compared with 134 in the previous year.