| Administrative History | Allocations: 1954-1987
Malta became an independent state within the Commonwealth in 1964 and an independent republic in 1974.
In 1953, a Save the Children (SCF) committee was set up in Malta, partly as a result of the fact that Lord Louis Mountbatten, husband of SCF's president, was based in Malta as Commander-in-Chief of British and NATO forces in the Mediterranean. Work done in Malta was carried out by this branch and funded partly from London. In May 1954, work included ante-natal clinics, maternity and child welfare, and supply of medicines. A survey in 1955 was made of deaf and dumb children on the island, to see what work could be done. On 1 April 1956, the Maltese government took over the SCF clinics. At the same time, Malta SCF began a survey of children in the island, the first of its kind there. In 1958 the branch was considering a school feeding scheme. In 1961 SCF was running a feeding scheme for mentally-handicapped children and a family assistance programme. There was also a certain amount of child sponsorship. In 1973 the Malta SCF organised a relief camp for stateless Asians from Uganda. In 1974 an air conditioning system was installed in the children's ward at St Luke's Hospital, along with other medical equipment. Casework and sponsorships continued to be supported until 1987. |