Parents of every child born in Bermuda from the start of the new year are to receive a personal booklet to record the growth and medical history of their child.

The Child Health Record was unveiled by Health Minister Patrice Minors who said that, as a mother herself with a child under the age of one she could appreciate how valuable it would be to have such a booklet.

Parents will receive the booklet from their health visitor and can use it, with the help of physicians and health workers, to keep track of their child?s progress and health checks and see at a glance what immunisations are due, and when, as well as record their offspring?s height and weight and other significant details.

It also includes helpful information and advice for parents.

A well-maintained record book would increase parents? understanding of their child?s health and development and improve communication between health professionals and parents. On average 800 children are born in Bermuda each year, so the Department of Health has printed up an initial batch of 1,000 booklets and will add updates and modifications, if needed, to future editions.

Mrs. Minors said: ?Keeping the record complete will be helpful when the time comes to register a child for school and to apply for travel visas, insurance or college.?

Dr. Jennifer Attride-Stirling, health promotion co-ordinator, said the booklet was a preventative tool, not a medical record, which would make it easier to see at a glance if a child has missed a health check or immunisation from a common childhood illness.