Plunket Society “U.N.”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 2

Plunket Society “U.N.”

Six young mothers with different national origins made their way to the same destination in the city yesterday—to the Plunket Society’s rooms in Oxford Terrace.

The first to arrive was Mrs M. Hooft, formerly of the Netherlands, who came with her six-months-old son, Geordie. The New Zealand dele-

gation included Mrs J. Manners with her son, Carl, aged eight months, and Mrs E. Tuatina with Timmi, just five months. The next to arrive turned out to be the life of the party. He was nine-months-old John Pavlakis, a Greek. He gave a boisterous welcome to the dainty little Chinese, Helen Yee, aged one. The last to arrive was solemn, blackeyed Bruce Mac Neil, whose parents are Fijian. This international group are now settled in the cen-

tral city area, and their babies are tended by Sister V. Francis of the Plunket Society, the national guardian of the health and welfare of babies and mothers. Mothercraft and Plunket care have become synonomous in this country and at least 90 per cent of babies are raised with Plunket guidance. In Christchurch alone there are 5446 babies and 7129 preschool children under Its care. For the district work in the Christchurch area, the society

must raise $40,000 annually. On Friday, September 6, the Christchurch branch will make its annual public appeal.

Last year the nurses of the society visited 25,482 babies in their home (an increase of 1165 on the previous year) and 33,702 babies were brought to the rooms (an increase of 950). Preventive medicine is another important aspect of the work. Last year there was an increase in the number at children immunised against poliomyelitis and other diseases.

Apart from the district work the society maintains the Lady King Karitane Hospital where specialised care is given to delicate babies. All that is necessary for this care is a note of admission from the doctor, Sister B. Helliwell said in Christchurch yesterday While donations might be appreciated, no-one is denied this care simply because she cannot afford it.

Mothercraft courses are another side of the society’s work. A course of six lectures held during the year waa well attended and this included the class for fathers on the final night of the course. Mothercraft classes are held in secondary schools, and occasionally attended by boys as well as girls. As an experiment In cooperation with the Health Department, one primary school arranged for boys and girls from Standard I to Form II to hear the talks, and it was found that the boys were just as enthusiastic about their future responsibilities as parents as the girls, said the secretary of the society (Mrs A. J. Benzie).

The photograph shows in from left, Mrs E. Tuatina with Timmi (five months), Mrs M. Hooft with Geordle (six months), and Mrs D. Pavlakis with John (nine months).'At back are Mrs C, J. Yee with Helen (12 months) and Mrs J. Manners with Carl (eight months).