Morley, David C

Please note that this archive is largely made up of patient data that is highly sensitive in nature. When the archive is catalogued, the patient data will require closure for the lifetime of the data subjects in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act.

Patient data, summaries and statistical analysis relating to child health survey which took place in Imese, Oke Messi and Ilesha, Nigeria, 1957-1967. Also includes material on a related study of Pyrimethamine, World Health Organisation and UNICEF reports and photographs, 1969-1977, and material relating to the charity War on Want.

David Cornelius Morley studied natural sciences at Clare College Cambridge, before moving to St Thomas's Hospital in London to study medicine and work as House Surgeon. Following a period of military service in Malaysia, Morley moved to Newcastle to study Paediatrics under James Spence and Donald Court.

In 1956 he took up a research post at the Methodist Hospital in Ilesha, Nigeria, where he was shocked by the high levels of childhood mortality caused by common diseases. He quickly realised that to change this he would need to revolutionise the existing medical system. Instead of reactive medical care being delivered by doctors in hospitals, Morley instituted a system where preventative health services were delivered by local health workers, with doctors taking on a largely managerial role. Amongst his innovations was the "road to health," a colour coded chart showing normal growth rates of children under five, allowing early detection of malnutrition. These charts were given to mothers to use at home and were designed so that they could be used by people who were unable to read.

Morley returned to London in 1964, where he established the Tropical Child Health Unit at the Institute of Child Health. He continued to work there until his retirement in 1989, establishing a master's course in mother and child health for doctors, nurses and nutritionists.

In 1965 Morley established the charity TALC (Teaching aids at low cost) to supply teaching equipment such as textbooks, slides, and weight charts to health workers throughout the developing world. Later, in 1978, he formed the Child to Child Trust with Hugh Hawes, which encouraged children to teach their peers about health. After his returement he continued to work with these charities.

David Morley received numerous honours throughout his career, including the James Spence medal of the British Paediatric Association, the King Faisal Award for International Health and the British Medical Association Dawson Williams Prize. He was awarded a CBE in 1989.