Plunket Society’s Work Increases

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31462, 31 August 1967, Page 2

Plunket Society’s Work Increases

Ninety-two per cent of New Zealand's babies are in the care of the Plunket Society. In 1965, this was 66,752 infants and 109,521 pre-school children.

Plunket nurses visit 96 per cent of babies born in Christchurch, says a report reviewing the society’s work throughout the country.

Work among preschool children has increased about 50 per cent in the last 10 years. In that period the Karitane hospitals have treated 31,810 babies and 11,385 mothers.

Education in child welfare and health for mothers is reflected in the mortality rate for infants under its eare, which was reduced to 17.9 for every 1000 live births in 1965.

In the last few years there have been ’‘dramatic” developments in the control of disease. Initially, hydatids was a Plunket target and

voluntary workers In the farming community have helped to reduce substantially the incidence of the parasite. Only one case of hydatids in a child under 10 has been reported. After the Sabin vaccine had been recommended to the Government, the society played a ‘’vital part” in mass vaccination. The vulnerable pre-school age group was the subject of ’’extraordinary” efforts by branehes and mothers’ clubs. Nearly 90 per cent of pre-school children were vaccinated. Sinee the scheme there has not been a case of poliomyelitis. In the “very near future" the society may be called on to help vaccinate ail preschool children against measles.

Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough eould be defeated if routine vaccination of all babies three to four months old were established, says the report. The society's immunisation record card assisted doctors and was now printed in large numbers by Glaxo, Ltd.

The training of nurses has changed considerably to keep in step with modern paediatrics, says the report There is less emphasis on feeding problems and milk mixtures and more interest in the promotion of mental and physical health and in early diagnosis of disorders. Plunket nurses now do, as a routine task, the urine test for any mental abnormality which can be treated, and for congenital hip disease, visual and hearing disorders. Much time is spent with specialists in these subjects during training. A course in child psychology is given by lecturers from the Auckland and Dunedin Universities.

The training of Karitane nurses has also been overhauled. Trainees now have a period of practical work in family homes as well as theoretical and hospital training. About 200 nurses are trained every year. Research projects on the

causes of accidents in ehildhood, hospital staphylococcal infections, cholesterol levels, and factors leading to congenital abnormalities greatly assist Plunket work. A continuing Study by Professor w. Ironside and Dr. p. Dewis is aimed at estabing and evaluating factors which affect the new infant s development. They are examining babies at the Karitane hospital in DunedinMothers' clubs have increased in number in the last io years. The review reports a movement led from Auckland by Dr, Margaret Lilov, who is giving group teaching and talks on antenatal and post-natal subjects. The society hopes that this branch of its health education work will be used "even more fully" in the future.