HEALTH CAMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 10, 11 July 1936, Page 13

HEALTH CAMPS

SCHEME ADOPTED

CONFERENCE. RESOLUTIONS

The conference of representatives of the Health Department and delegates of the children's health camp .associations of the Dominion, which was held in Wellington yesterday, adopted a j number of resolutions. Dr. M. H. | Watt Director-General of Health presided. ■:■; ■ ... The conference resolved to establish a National Federation of Health Camps, and that there should be a Dominion advisory board and four central councils having areas corresponding , approximately to the four former defence districts, with district executives and local area committees. . HEALTH CAMP CONTROL. The Health Department submitted a scheme for health camp control, and this was adopted. This scheme divided camps as follows, and prescribed the following conditions:— •■ .. Permanent health camps, institutions kept open practically throughout the year.or for such period as the necessities of the district require,' and in buildings set apart for this sole purpose. ■ ..,-.. . ■ .

Summer health camps, available during the Christmas holidays or pt a convenient adjacent period, in such buildings as school premises or other premises as may be approved by the Director-General of Health.

That children eligible for admission ■to permanent health camps shall, generally speaking, be those whose condition of health required residence for an extended period (preferably not less than six weeks) under expert supervision (medical and nursing), and that children eligible for admission to summer health camps shall be those whose physical; condition makes advisable change of'air, together with simple routine inculcating the principles of healthy living. .. ■

That before admission to a permanent^ health camp all children shall be medically examined, preferably by the local school medical officer, but where this was not practicable examination may be carried out by a private medical practitioner on tehalf of the local health camp committee.

That children selected for admission to a summer health camp shall be nominated by head teachers and. school medical officers and nurses, arid aU children, whether selected for a permanent health camp or. a^ summer health camp, shall be medically examined to ensure freedom from infectious disease, preferably within one week prior to admission. .

It was laid down as a principle that in order to prevent wastage therp should be a limit to the. number of permanent health camps, and that fov the present there should be not more than four in the North Island and three in the South Island. .

It was agreed that to organise the national federation on a voluntary basis . the following contributions should be made by the State: —The assistance of experts where required by ! health camp executives in organisation, education, and medical supervision; the use of public reserves and buildings for' camps, and financial assistance by way of subsidy for health stamp or other funds as might be necesasry, such funds to be credited only to those organisations joining the national federation. , •■ ■

It was agreed that funds raised by individual organisations shouia belong to those organisations, and that funds raised by health -stamps should be apportioned by the relative central council.

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