HEALTH UNIT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 19 September 1930, Page 19

HEALTH UNIT.

ORGANISATION IN CANADA. (FEOM OCR BI'ECHL CORRESPOKDINT.) VANCOTJVEB, August 20. For some years past Canada has been making a determined bid to emulate the remarkable success achieved by New Zealand in reducing infantile mortality. Excellent results have been attained, and the work is being carried o.n actively by public and private organisations. The problem is still acute, chiefly due to the vastness of tho country and the severity of the •winter. Last year, of 232,205 children born in Canada, 7091 were still-born; 23,671' die'd before their first birthday; 30,973 died before they reached fivo years; 9000 mothers died in childbirth. In the outlying districts, the fulltime Health Unit is a factor in improving the chances of infants to survive the difficult first years, of .life. Quebec is noted for these units, which are off the beaten track, in communities that have not up:to-date hospital and medical comforts. Usually a Small; community taxes itself voluntarily to engage the services of a doctor, a nurse, a sanitary engineer, and a secretary, together with equipment within their means. The territory of such a. unit varies to suit the needs of different localities. Where there is a permanent logging outfit, the organisation is carried on by the lumber company, supplemented by contribution from employees. • Quebec shows good returns for this health service. In one /unit the infantile mortality dropped from 213 to 160 in a year. Deaths from adult sickness fell from 643 to '487. and deaths from contagious disease from 87 to 27. Three small outlying units reduced" the number of deaths from 147 to 79. Alberta has a system of travelling clinics, which co-dperate with local units. Tho clinic includes a doctor, dentist and nurse. ... The school, community' hall, or even the church is turned into a temporary assembly point for tho clinic at the time # of its visit. These clinics are showing remarkable results, - especially among unprivileged children in tho backblocks. Their ultimate aim is to have every man, woman- and child in, the back country examined at least once a year by a doctor and. a dentist.