Mayor Opens X-Ray Campaign In City

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 2

Mayor Opens X-Ray Campaign In City

Appeals to every adult in Christchurch to have a free chest X-ray, and to do everything possible to see that all other adults did the same, were made by the Mayor (Mr G. Manning! and the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. L. F. Jepson) at the official opening of the third city and suburban antituberculosis X-ray campaign yesterday. The opening was held in Cathedral square outside the Post Office. where two mobile X-ray units—the Christchurch unit and the one from Dunedin —were drawn up ready to begin the survey. The Mayor was the first to be photographed, and a queue of other citizens followed. “The co-oneration of every adult, young and old, is needed to stamp out ’his ’er rible disease.” said Mr Manning “We must all get behind this campaign. “Some peonle are complacent. They think tuberculosis has been beaten. I wish it had, but that is far from true. Last year, in the Christchurch district. 117 names were added to the tuberculosis register, and at the end ot the year there were 1314 names on the list. It is estimated that another undetected cases exist in tbH eity. 'The Health De*>artm<>n‘ hones to detect all th»re cases in this snrvov. and then eve the remedies modiern swerve has evolved to cure the disease. “I was brought un with s terrific fear of the results of tuberculosis, which in the part of Wales where I lived was one of the most ravaging diseases. Things have improved greatly since then, both in the Old Country and

in New Zealand. What we have to do now is to eradicate tuberculosis altogether. “That is what the Health Department is trying to do. In endeavouring to get people to have a chest X-ray the department is only asking them to do something for their own good. What comes first in lite is good health. “I congratulate the officers of the department on their good work so far, and give them every good wish for the success of this campaign.” Dr. Jepson said that, last .time the city had been surveyed for tuberculosis nearly 23.000 persons had been photograph -d. and he hoped that the figure con'd he doubled this time. “We have the means to contro’ tuberculous comoletely. if neonlo would only take the trouble to come to our unit.” Dr. Jepson said. “Every adult must have an X-rav taken, and must trv to bring a friend. Parents with adult young people in the house should ensure that they. too. come along.” The two units yesterday afternoon nhotocraphed 273 oersons. An officer attached to one of the urtits said that oersons were slow in coming. One mobile unit will be in the Sqi'ere for the rest of this week, while another store* at various nlaces in ’he «o<ith-ea«‘ern sectov of the inner ci*v area. The static unit in Manchester Street is ’till c’os»d hut l« expected •o reon°n about the end of the week Part of the itonartment's Whanearei machine is being airfreighted to Christchurch to make this possible as repairs to the transformer belonging to the Christchurch unit are still « few days from completion.