HEALTH OF THE CHILD

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 147, 18 March 1937, Page 17

HEALTH OF THE CHILD

Pica For Co-operation

WORK OF SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE

A plea for the closest possible cooperation between all bodies working for the common good of the child was made by Dr. M. Cliamptaloup, an officer of the Health Department, in a brief address to members of the Wellington Education Board at the monthly meeting yesterday. Dr. Cbamptaloup, who lias recently been appointed to the Wellington district: in an organising capacity, told the board that the education districts of Wellington, Hawke’s Bay. Wanganui and Nelson had been selected as an experimental area for more intensive school medical work under the control of Dr. F. S. McLean, Medical Officer of Health, Wellington. It. was desirable, she said, that school work should be brought into closer touch with general health activities. Referring to some of the problems which, though not confined to Wellington, were very noticeable in the district, Dr. Cbamptaloup said that- the cleaning of schools was one thing that was causing concern, as provision for cleaning was often inadequate. This had been accentuated by increased financial restrictions during the depression. "Overcrowding also appears to be more marked than in some areas. Dr. Cbamptaloup said. “Some of the schools are very full indeed. During the depression the floor space of 12 square feet for each child was lowered to 10 square feet, and the standard size of classrooms was also cut down. Again, the furniture in schools is on the whole unsatisfactory. It is made In three stock sizes, and in certain districts where there has been a shortage of the correct sizes small children have lieen put in large desks and large children in small desks. "Accommodation for school medical inspection in many eases is inadequate, and it is very pleasing to learn that in the new Newtown School a special room is being provided for this purpose.

“It is desirable that a joint conference should be held when any new movement is contemplated,” said Dr. Cbamptaloup in conclusion, "and in the words of the popular song, ‘the more wo get together the happier we shall be.’ ” Board’s Co-operation. "It is a very fine thing for this district that Dr. Cbamptaloup has come here,” said the chairman, Mr. W. V. Dyer. “The deficiencies she has mentioned have been very patient to us, and it will be all to the good if we can work in with her. On behalf of the board, I offer Dr. Cbamptaloup our heartiest co-operation. The cleanliness of schools is a matter that has exercised the mind of the board for some time, but in the past, with so little money available for this purpose, it was impossible to bring much pressure to bear on school committees. Now, however, a little more money has been made available for cleaning.” Mr. L. J. McDonald said that the work of the school medical officers was becoming more and more appreciated. They had discovered factors in relation to the physical health of the nation which had previously been overlooked, and as a result attention was being concentrated not so much on the tragedies at the bottom of the cliff but in preventive measures at the top. Mr, A. Donald suggested that when Dr. Cbamptaloup visited the Wairarapa a conference of interested parties should be arranged. Mr. W. H. Jackson favoured the inauguration in the Training College of a course on the laws of health and first aid.

Mr. C. 11. Nicholls asked for an assurance that parents be given due notice of visits to schools by the doctors and whether they would be encouraged to attend.

Dr. Champtalouj), in reply, said she would lie delighted to attend a conference as suggested by Mr. Donald. She had arranged to give a course of lectures at the Training College on school hygiene. As regards visits to schools, only in exceptional circumstance* were these made without the parents being notified a day or so beforehand. Parents of -infants were invited to attend and children who were not due for routine examination could be examined at the request of their parents. 1