PLUNKET SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 225, 21 June 1939, Page 13

PLUNKET SERVICE

Overseas Visitors’ Interest The annual report of the charge nurse for the Wellington Plunket Nursing Service states that the Plunket rooms were visited during the year by many interesting and interested people wishing to know something more of the society’s work. Many were social workers from overseas, keen to see and learn something of the system which had made New Zealand famous. “It is seldom that a liner is in port, even if only for a few hours, that we do not get visitors who are anxious to get a glimpse of our activities in the short ■time at their disposal,” the report states. There were, 4496 visitors to the Karitane Hospital at Melrose during the year. Some of the overseas visitors knew a great deal about the work, but many knew nothing at all. One of the visitors was a baby girl from Malaya, brought by its father and mother. The society had helped the mother by correspondence before the birth of the baby, and as the parents were visiting New Zealand they made a point of visiting Karitaiie to let the staff see the baby. Many overseas nurses also visited Karitaiie and were keen to be shown ail they eould. The figures given of the work accomplished during the year ended Marell 31 are arresting. The total visits to the prenatal section were 2682. The new baby cases totalled 1782, compared with 1562 in the previous year. Ninety per cent, of the babies born in Wellington come under the supervision of the society. Increases over the previous year's fig; ures were: —New babies, 220: visits of baliies to offices. 1383: visits of adults to offices. 1315; older children under supervision, 83; visits to homes bv nurses. 1407. Though all classes of the community are reached through various valuable agencies, the report states that it is true, incredible though it may seem, that the vast majority of citizens still require educating in healthy living, regarding both themselves and the small citizens of the future entrusted to their cure during I he early and vitally important years of file.