Plunket marks anniversary

Press, 14 May 1987, Page 5

Plunket marks anniversary

PA Wellington The Plunket Society, founded to improve the health and welfare of infants in New Zealand, celebrates its eightieth anniversary today. The Minister of Health, Dr Bassett, will hold a reception at the Beehive to mark the occasion. Plunket’s president, Mrs Jenny Cox, said the society adapts its services to changes in infant health care and is particularly concerned with the problems of cot death, child abuse and safety. To encourage greater confidence among parents, Plunket has introduced a self-helD health

aucea a seii-neip neatin care programme with information on home medicine, immunisation, nutrition and child safety, she said.

The organisation was founded in 1907 by Dr Frederic Truby King in response to the high infant mortality rate and malnutrition that existed at the time. He enlisted the help of nurses and prominent citizens, together with hundreds of. volunteers. He also had the support of the Gover-nor-General of the day, Lord Plunket, after whom the society is named. The society is made up of 406 Plunket nurses and 125 Karitane nurses. There are over 50,000 volunteers, who work alongside the nurses. Plunket has clinics and supportive networks throughout the country. It attends to nearly 90 per cent of all new babies, together with 162,000 preschoolers.