HEALTH CAMPS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 16

HEALTH CAMPS

VIEW OF CHRISTCHURCH - DOCTOR OPPOSITION EXPRESSED TO ABANDONMENT j Criticism of the action of the Health j Department in postponing the holding ( of health camps this summer because , of the possibility of a severe outbreak ] of infantile paralysis was expressed j by Dr. D. E. Currie, chairman of the ( executive of the Sunlight League, in 1 commenting yesterday on the remarks ( of the medical superintendent ot the . Auckland Public Hospital, Dr. J. W. , Craven. Dr. Currie said also, that he would like to see a large camp on model lines opened up near to the sea north of New Brighton, which ( would be isolated from visitors. t “In my official capacity as chairman ( of the executive of the Sunlight i League, I naturally have to agree with 1 the decision of the Health Department; 1 but personally I am entirely in agree- 1 ment with the statements of Dr. Craven i that the health camps should not be '• abandoned,” said Dr. Currie, to a re- • presentative of “The Press.” “I would very much like to see a < large camp on model lines opened \ close to the sea north of New Brigh- • ton, which would be absolutely segre- ( gated from visitors —qualified nurses in 1 charge with a regular medical inspec- J tion every day. I consider that if such ' a camp were opened, children in poor : homes in the comparatively crowded areas of Christchurch would stand a . much better chance of escaping infection from the disease. , “I have spoken to a few disappointed . mothers of children who were to go to camps this summer, and I have gathered the impression that a sufficient , number of parents would be agreeable : to send their children to such a camp,” j concluded Dr. Currie. , FUTURE POLICY NEED FOR PERMANENT ! CAMP STATEMENT BV SUNLIGHT LEAGUE Following on the announcement of the cancellation of health camps and the advice received from the Health Department that these camps might be used for children already grouped together in orphanages or other institutions, Captain Anderson, of the Sunlight League, made the following statement yesterday: “Whilst it was regretted that such disappointment must have come to so many children, it is hoped through the money saved, that next year a much larger number of children will receive the benefit of a period in a health carrm. “Unfortunately there is no permanent camp in North Canterbury, which, in the present circumstances, might have been used for the accommodation of children from an orphanage. The camps arranged were to have been held in school buildings or on private l property, and it was only through the 1 generous offers of help, the personal interest and support of the local residents, that they were possible. It is understood that the well known Otaki camp is to be made available now for the Salvation Army Children’s Home, Wellington, the inmates of which will go there for some weeks. Unfortunately the proposed camps here could not be used for such a purpose, as owing to their location the required isolation of the children would be impossible. “After a conference held some time ago in Wellington, an executive committee for health camps was formed recently in Christchurch. This committee with representatives from the city, suburbs, Sunlight League, and districts in North Canterbury, will be in future, responsible for the organisation of all camps in this part of the province. It will be their policy, in consultation with the Health Department.,! and with the assistance of expert advice. to obtain some suitable site for a permanent summer health camp. Other Reproaches “There is urgent need here for a permanent summer camp, and had it existed now it could have been used in a similar way to Otaki. It is not, however, generally realised that the summer health camps are not the only activity of the health camps committee. The committee has been paying for a certain number of delicate children at the beautiful Cholmondeley Home, and hopes to extend this branch of its work. Cholmondeley is open all the year round, and when things return to normal again the committee hopes to use some of the money it would have spent on summer health camps in sending a greater number of children to Cholmondeley than it would otherwise have been able to do. Possibly it may also use some of the money to erect permanent buildings where -ummer health camps could be run for several months, say from November to March, taking relays of some 70 to 80 children. Let it be hoped, therefore, that the absence of cairns this January will not diminish future interest and that the generous financial supof th e public this year will en- ? b Christchurch executive for health camps both to ensure greater facilities in the future and to Five many delicate children winter care at Cholmondeley instead of summer care." ALU GALAS POSTPONED AT NEW BRIGHTON As a precaution against the infantile paralysis outbreak, all galas which were to take place in New Brighton and the surrounding districts during Christmas and the New Year have been cancelled at the request of the Medical Officer (Dr, T. Fletcher Telford). The chief event which had been arranged was the New Brighton Municipal Band’s carnival, which was to have begun on Boxing Day, and continued for at least a fortnight. The New Brighten Business Association had received permission to hold a gala on the foreshore to raise money for the Mayor’s relief of distress fund, and the children’s playground on January 30, and the South Brighton Gala Committee had arrangements well in hand for a gala to be held in the Pleasant Point Domain on New Year’s Day. The Mayor of New Brighton (Mr E. L. Smith) said last evening that some other leans would have to be found of raising the amount required by the Municipal Band to pay the £2B owing on its new uniforms. He said that he would probably call a meeting of all gala committees as soon as the present “scare” was over, and would try to arrange a big combined function to compensate all organisations for the loss of their outlay.