Economic and financial section > Problem of nutrition

— 78 —
The Child Welfare Institute at Bucharest established by Royal Decree
is charged with the responsibility for co-ordinating the activities of
the State and private organisations, which operate on lines parallel to
the State undertakings. Among these the Principele Mircea Society
and the Association for Housewives carry on important work for child
protection, as well as a whole series of other bodies.
For working mothers, creches are established in certain places near
factories.
Switzerland.
The number of philanthropic associations for mothers and infants at
the breast is very large.
In almost all cities there are (in addition to dispensaries and maternity
hospitals) nurseries which receive and rear infants, infant homes and
creches, to which working mothers can entrust their children during the
day, together with milk distribution centres, which prepare food for
infants with careful attention to quantities, and which give free advice,
etc.
All these organisations are under medical supervision. They are
financed by donations and grants and frequently by modest contributions
from the parents of the children concerned, while they command the
services of volunteer workers.
United States of America.
In the United States, assistance to mothers and infants has been
developed for a number of years through the activity of the Federal
Children’s Bureau working in the States through the child hygiene
divisions and in local areas through infant welfare agencies. This work
will be further expanded under the Social Security Act.
Certain relief agencies, both public and private, have at times
distributed a part of their relief in kind. This has been especially true
of milk and milk products, and local welfare agencies have frequently
had funds for distribution of milk to children and nursing mothers.
Studies show the improvement in the nutritive value of diets as well
as an increase in the total amount of food consumed with such food
distribution (see also Chapter VII, page 257).
Yugoslavia.
Homes for Infants and Young Children.
Six of these homes were opened before the war by the Government
and by private persons ; three were opened during the war and twenty-
one after the war.
The modern homes for infants and mothers are the following :
Home for Infants and Mothers of Her Majesty Queen Marie, at
Ljubljana, with 30 cots for infants ; it is subsidised by the Government
and by private associations.