What's in a Prague street name

Matek was named in 1941.

‘Matek’ is the genitive plural of ‘matka’, and therefore translates as ‘of the mothers’.

In 1914, Ochrana matek a kojenců / Protection of Mothers and Infants was founded; when Czechoslovakia was founded, it started to operate across the new country.

In 1922, it merged with another organisation, Československá péče o dítě (Czechoslovak Child Care), and became known as the Československá ochrana matek a dětí.

Of the many shelters and hospitals that it operated, one was around here. It was founded in 1922, and was the first institute of its kind in the country.

Since 1949, it’s been part of Thomayer University Hospital, which is getting a post or two to itself quite soon.