THE WORLD'S HEALTH

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 16

THE WORLD'S HEALTH

SECOND COUNCIL MEETING A full account of the great Red Cross meeting held recently at Geneva has arrived, and contains much of interest.. These international councils are arranged to take place every second yjeax, and on this occasion thirfcy-five different 'national societies were represented, the delegates from New Zealand being Miss Sybil Nathan and Dr. Colquhoiin. Mr. Henry Davison, the popular American who was one of the originators of the Red Cross peace movement, was unfortunately in ill-health and unable to be present; therefore, Senator Depage (Belgian Red Cross), took the chair. Sir Claude Hill (director-general) introduced the programme of work, and said that the main and primary purpose of the league with its various societies was to awaken the hygienic conscience of the world. Co-operation and good equipment were mentioned; while the means to secure enlightment of public opinion should be:—(1) Popular Health Instruction. (2) Development of Public jHealth Nursing. (3) Development of the Junior Red Cross. Sir Claude went on to remark that though it was a truism to say that, "You cannot make people healthy, by Act of Parliament," it was equally true that, up to the present time, little concerted endeavour had been directed towards persuading people to renwin healthy of their own intelligent volition. Sir Claude emphasised the fact that 85 per xent. of ill-health, both mental and bodily, was avoidable, and yet people had not been instructed or persuaded to use the simple methods and co-operated with Governmental measures in the efforts of scientists and physicians. Two ' interesting paragraphs from the report are as follow:— '• „■

"On the subject of public health nursing a great, deal of interest was aroused. From all sides came the demand for intelligent and thoroughly - equipped women, but the difficulties to be overcome in securing a sufficient number of nurses of the right kind were not forgotten either. Dr. Svendsen (Norway) urged that no .Iranian could combine the duties of a sick nurse and a health visitor. Professor Bossi Doria claimed that the nursing profession must be better paid if it is to attract, as it should, the very best women in each country.' The problem to be solved is how the nursing standard may be kept high without neglecting the immediate need in many lands. The solution of this puzzle is to be found in the conclusions of the joint'meeting of th^ Board of Governors and the Medical Advisory Board given below.

"Perhaps the most moving and encouraging speeches were those made in eulogy of the Junior Red Cross. Clearly hr all parts of the world this movement is expected to become a powerful anta- i gonist to the spirit- of war. This faith in the potentialities of the movement was shared by all speakers. While some would have seen the movement directed internationally, and even, as one delegate suggested, make use of an international language, others felt that a more healthy development is possible when the movement in each nation follows along the traditional national lines. As General Haller put it, at the close of a very eloquent speech, the best that is in one country, when it has been brought out, ■will be found to resemble the'best, in other countries." Two resolutions are as follow :— The General Council considers that the promotion and stimulation of public health nursing should form an integral part of the programme of every national Bed Cross Society, provided this task is not already accomplished by other organisations,. and recommends,:— 1. That each national Red Cross Society appoint a Bed Cross Public Health Nursing Committee. 2. It recommends that the statutes or public announcements of each Junior Red Cross should include in their statement of its purposes a declaration to the following effect: —' ' • : "The Junior ' Bed Cross is organised for the purpose of inculcating in the children of its country the ideal of peace i and the practice of service, especially in relation to the care of their own health and that of others, ihe understanding I and acceptance of cntc and human responsibility, and. the cultivation and maintenance ofa spirit of friendly helpfulness towards other children in' all countries."