PLUNKET NURSES

Press, Volume L, Issue 14907, 4 March 1914, Page 11

PLUNKET NURSES

WORK IN TOWN AND COUNTRY

At tho ilarch meeting of the committee of the Society for tho Health of Women and Children, the report of the first year's work of the travelling Plunket Nurse, Nurse Kilgour, wae received, and, on the whole, considered most satisfactory. For five months, from Kith March to 16th August, half her time Was spent in Ashburton —a fortnight in each month —and when she handed the work over to the permanent Plunket Nurse en&aged bjr the Ashburton Committee, there were 85 babies on the books. In May and Septembor, Kaikoura was visited, 21 cases being attended, arid Nurse Kilgour was at present paying her usual visit —an arrangement having been made whereby Christchnrch undertakes to send a Plunket Nurse evory four mouths —during which time she will work under a committee, formed in Kaikoura for limbering the work. At Kaiapoi, Kakaia, Metkven, Springfield, New Brighton, Coalgate, and Lyttolton, mothers had availed themselves of her services. The report goes on to say :— "There is no doubt that the public gre.ntly appreciate all that the Society is doing lor the welfare of mothers nnd children, and the constant appeals for help and advice prove that the need exists for educating parents as to the best methods of feeding, etc. Thanks to the efforts of Mrs Pyne, a sufficient sum—£&J—was collected last year from country friends; this, with £25 from Ashburton. enabled tho Society to apply for the subsidy of 2-is per £. up to £100, which if now granted by the Government, and also making it possible to provide the salary necessary for the travelling Plunket Nurse. The question now arises: How is t!*c work to be carried on in the outlying districts if the country residents do not come forward and help? The original scheme as put forward at the time this new branch of the work was inaugurated, was that small committees, consisting of threo or five interested women, should be formed in country townships and to help the nurse by advising her as to visits to bo paid, and informing her as to cases requiring her attention, each committee to collect a small sum from £2 upwards, towards the expenses. It is very disappointing to have to record that, with tho sole exception of Kaikoura, no one has responded anywhere to the appeal made by the Chegtchurch Branch. The cum needed is only £84, as with the subsidy and the railway pass also provided by the Government, this is quite sufficient. It is to be hoped that Canterbury will not be behindhand in coming forward this year. Clrristchurch people have been so generous in helping the work in the town for the last six years that it does not eeem. fair to ask them to subscribe to the travelling nurse." ,

In Christchurch g under Nurse Hansard and Nurse Elus, most satisfactory progress is reported; the number of babies and 'mothers on the bopks for the month being 302 and 355 respectively. In addition-to this, there is a constant demand for lectures and addressee to women and young girls-Mxrth in town and in the country —and many mothers in- distant parts are helped by correspondence and leaflets.