Busy year for family planning.

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 8

Busy year for family planning.

Making it happen

Two thousand more patients attended the Family Planning Association’s Christchurch clinic during the 1984%5 year, members of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand family Planning Association were told at their annual meeting last week.

As a result of the increased patient load, and a small increased in consultation fees, there was a 52 per cent increase in patient revenue. This resulted in an over-all 15 per cent increase in total income for the branch. Its medical director, Dr Diana Edwards, gave the background to the improvement in the clinic’s financial position. Management innovations included changed staffing ratios with reduced hours for doctors and increases for nurses, together with further responsibilities for senior nurses.

“It is difficult to put into words the profound effect this change in financial status has had on the staff,” Dr Edwards said.

“Their energies have now turned to productive, innovative, and useful ideas for improvements. Suggestions for further improvements and extension of clinic services abound.”

Research into chlamydia and the publication of a paper on chlamydia, together with the identification and treatment of all pregnant patients with this condition were important aspects of the clinic’s work during the year, Dr Edwards said.

All pregnant patients are now routinely checked for chlamydia, with a 23 per cent level of infection being found.

A fall in post-operative complications is related to identifying and treating pregnant patients with chlamydia infection, Dr Edwards said. Clinics in Blenheim, on the West Coast, and in Rangiora are continuing to serve the public, while numbers are rising markedly at the Aranui clinic.

The president, Mrs Ros Burdon, congratulated staff and volunteers on a successful year, ard commented on the growth in counselling services offered by the branch.

“During the last year there has been a steadily increasing demand for counselling, with the most marked increase since January, 1985. “At present clients must regularly meet 2 to 3 weeks for a daytime counselling

appointment, while the one evening session has been booked two months in advance most of the year.”

Mrs Burton said that clients seeking counselling nearly all have specifically sexual problems, and that an increasing number of men are coming in, initially without their partners. In spite of a financially successful year, space and finance still are a problem for the Christchurch branch. An $lB,OOO deficit is expected for the coming year. “We have not received an increase in establishment level from the Health Department, and it is unlikely that we will do so, although the demand for services is ever increasing,” Mrs Burdon said.

“The limitations imposed on us by the shortage of space are very real. We continually hope that the Arts Centre management will be able to give us more room.”

Mrs Burdon also drew attention to the hard work put in by many branch staff members to the Sexuality and Disability Training Conference being held in Christchurch, from August 29 to September 1. Educating both professionals and the general public has been a feature of the year’s activity. “There has been an in-

crease in our advisory role with many professionals, such as clinical psychologists, teachers, public health nurses, by providing them with information or ways of taking courses,” said Mrs Jill Bromley, chairman of the education sub-committee.

“In line with the Education Department’s priorities, there has been an increase in training others in sexuality education. “New developments have also focused on sexual abuse, with courses in sexual abuse education and the setting up of an action group to co-ordinate the network of services for sexual abuse.”

Mrs Bromley said that the number of schools introducing programmes in sexuality education has increased, particularly at the intermediate level, with evenings for parents and pupils. Y.W.C.A. The first Christchurch resident to be elected to the national executive of the Young Women’s Christian Association is a University of Canterbury tutor, Judith Nathan.

Mrs Nathan was elected national vice-president at the four-yearly Y.W.C.A.

convention held in Auckland at the end of May. She has been on the board of the Christchurch Y.W.C.A. for six years, and was a New Zealand delegate to the world Y.W.C.A. Council in Singapore in 1983. In the context of the Y.W.C.A., Mrs Nathan’s particular interests are public affairs as they relate to women.

She supports the image that the Y.W.C.A. is trying to promote for itself, that of a broadly-based Christian women’s group prepared to support and speak out on issues of equality and social justice. “We strongly supported ratification of the United nation’s women’s convention, we support the Government’s nuclear policy, and we oppose the rugby tour of South Africa,” she said. The Y.W.C.A. convention also came out in support of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. Christian role models The opportunity to discuss feelings about the role models of Mary, the spiritual one who sat at Christ’s feet,’ and Martha, who did all the work (with precious few thanks) is

being offered Christian women in a get-together on Wednesday, June 26, 9.45 a.m.-2.30 p.m. The role of do-good, busy Martha has been re-ex-amined recently by Elizabeth Moltmann, a German theologian. Dr Moltmann found medieval representations of Martha showing her as a parallel to St George, the dragon-killer. Martha, too, fought a dragon, but she wore no armour, and used no weapons. She won the beast over by her power, so that it followed her like a dog and licked her hand.

It’s a view that gives far more significance to the role of the Marthas of this world than is usual.

Encouraging? And that’s what the day is about. With speakers, slides, group discussions, sales tables and floral work, it aims to enrich and strengthen the selfimage of participants. A creche will be provided. The venue is the Salvation Army Citadel. For more information, contact Kim Carrie, phone 519-084.

Courses The sexuality education programme run by the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Family Planning Association, is gearing up for a busy winter programme. Courses include: Menopause (July 9th); PreMenstrual Syndrome (July 16); Sexual Abuse (July 23); and a six-session course on Women’s Sexuality, starting July 11th. For further information and to book, contact Education Unit, phone 790-514. Quote You start by sinking into his arms, and end up with your arms in his sink. Anon. Items for consideration in this column should be addressed to Mrs J. Steincamp, “The Press,” P.O. Box 1005, Christchurch.