"SAVE MOTHERS"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 9

"SAVE MOTHERS"

CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN

THE ABORTION EVIL

EXPERT COMMITTEE

United Tress Assoclanon—By Electric Tel«-

graph—Copyright. (Received April 29, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, April 28.

An important new "Save tha Mothers" campaign was announced by the Minister of Health, following the publication of a White Paper embodying the report of the investigation by a committee on maternal mortality. The report states that attempted abortions are apparently frequent, that the number is increasing, and that they are responsiblfl for a number of deaths. The Minister has therefore decided on the immediate appointment of a committee of medical and legal ex* .perts* with Mr. Norman Birkett, K.C., as chairman, to consider steps to reduce the mortality from this cause. Another measure will make provision for flying squads of skilled members of hospital staffs to attend women who are too ill to be moved from their ■homes. The report also urges further research concerning the' possible influence of diet on child-bearing. In England-and Wales the deathrate from puerperal causes during tha period 1930-34 ■' was 4.36 per thousand births., In Scotland it 'was 6.26 per thousand births. .In New Zealand, from 1931 to 1935, it was 4.47. About 3000 women die in Britain each year in child-birth and a further 3000 suffer damage to their health. In the effort to do something towards remedying this state of affairs the Government has passed a Midwives Act to enable every mother, whatever her circumstances, to obtain the aid of a qualified midwife. .':'