Finnish maternity and child health clinics celebrate their 100th anniversary
The Finnish maternity and child health clinics date back to 1922 when Professor of Paediatrics Arvo Ylppö opened a clinic in a renovated woodshed at the Lastenlinna children’s hospital in Helsinki.
During their one-hundred-year history, Finnish maternity and child health clinics have brought infant and maternal mortality record low, prevented tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, promoted public health, vaccinated children, offered families mental support and tackled new challenges time and time again.
Today, the clinics reach practically every Finnish family who are expecting or have children. Their main service is regular health checks that also include health counselling to the whole family. The Finnish system of maternity and child health clinics is well known across the world.
Events during the centenary year of Finnish maternity and child health clinics
The main event of the year will be the Annual Meeting of Maternity and Child Health Clinics on 8 September 2022. It is organised by the National Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Read more:
- Annual Meeting of Maternity and Child Health Clinics (in Finnish)
Other events, too, will be organised across the country.
- Itla Children’s Foundation: The seminar “One hundred years of Finnish maternity and child health clinics – supporting families in their daily lives and preventing COVID-19” on 28 April 2022 (in Finnish)
- Finnish Union of Public Health Nurses: The Annual Meeting of Public Health Nurses 2022 and the Maternity and Child Health Clinics 100 Years Jubilee Seminar on 6–7 October 2022 (in Finnish)
In addition, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the Finnish Union of Public Health Nurses will be organising local events across the country.
Is there a centenary year event missing from this list? Please, report it to us at viestinta.stm(at)gov.fi.