| District Nursing |
| District Nursing | Baby Clinic |
 The missionThee mission of the district nursing is "to provide total health care, nursing and guidance to people in the districts and/or their homes, with special attention for rehabilitation, comfort, companionship, reliability, feeling of security, feeling of being independent and information services." At present, the district nursing provides care to mothers and newborn babies, pre-scholars from 0 to 4 yeas old, clients in need of nursing care, disabled and elderly. In total the district nursing provides care to roughly 300 clients in the districts and 2500 in the baby clinics per year.  AnniversaryIn 2003 the District Nursing celebrated its the 35th Anniversary, so I feel it is appropriate to give a brief history of the District Nursing. The District Nursing was established on 15th of March 1968 by Sister Edelbertha de Barbanson, at time President of the White Yellow Cross foundation. The work of the District Nursing at that time would comprise of:
On the first of January 1969 Sister Basilia de Boer was appointed as nurse in the district. A room was made available at the Polyclinic in the Back Street, with a refrigerator for vaccines, and a bureau. On the 19th of March the Baby Clinic was opened, only a few mothers came that day but after a few weeks the Clinic was so busy that a second afternoon had to be added.
On May 2nd 1973, the building for District Nursing on the Back Street was officially opened by the representative of the Dutch Development Aid, Mr.Bart Bredero while Rev Father, J. Standemeyer and Rev. Minister John Gumbs blessed the building. In 1974 another Baby Clinic was opened in Cole Bay in Dr. G. Foeken Clinic. In 1975 the District Nursing assisted with a massive vaccination program in the schools. Also in 1975 more Baby Clinic's were opened at Dr. E. Jacobs Clinic for the Cul de Sac, St. Peters, Saunders, and The Bush road area. On the 1st of August 1984 the Baby Clinic started at the Sister Basilia Clinic. In 1988 the Philipsburg Clinic became so crowded that a Mobile Bus was necessary for Middle Region Lower Princes Quarter, and the Bush road area, since no building could be found. In 2001 the bus was sold after years of services it became to small. On occasions mothers would be standing in the rain waiting their turn. So the decision was made to rent space on locations. Until 2001 the nurses worked in the district's as well as in the Baby clinics but the clinics were becoming so busy that the Denver Test was no longer taking place in the first year of the child as required. By allocating 2 nurses permanently to the Baby clinics it became possible to have Baby Clinics all day instead of only in the mornings or afternoons. Proper data collection also required persons who could be trained to work with the data management program. Hilda Bell. Department Manager District Nursing. White Yellow Cross Foundation.
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