TUBERCULOSIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 111, 6 November 1937, Page 11

TUBERCULOSIS

COMBATIVE MEASURES

INCIDENCE DISCUSSED

1 Congratulating .the Minister of Health. (the Hon. "P. Frascr) on the fact that .New Zealand was leading the world in the campaign to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National. Riccarton),. in the House of Representatives yesterday, urged an. intensification of the combative measures \vhen the Estimates were under consideration. He said that New Zealand should fight the disease with even greater determination in the future than it had done in the past. Medical science had shown that the disease could be prevented and the Government should not hesi-i tate to avail itself of the most modern, facilities for suppressing it. | While taking steps to prevent the! spread of disease, Mr. Kyle added, the Government should also put down the growth of quackery. Too many peoplo of this type were carrying on business in New Zealand 'today, .drawing thousands of people to their doors. Was it fair, he said, that this sort of thing should be allowed to continue when New Zealand was spending large sums of money on the education and training of students for the medical profession? . . Mr. J. Hargest (National, Awarua) commented on the high incidence of tuberculosis among nurses. Conditions existed in some hospitals where the incidence of the disease among healthy girls was inordinately high. He suggested that longer holidays might alleviate the position. ■■■'.■' , . "We must be careful that we do not treat people suffering *r°m _ jr t"b. er: culosis as outcasts," said the Minister of Health. "Anything of that nature is utterly ridiculous and should be discouraged."' While it was necessary to provide' the best treatment and accommodation, they knew that tuberculosis could be combated. There were people walking around today completely cured who had had, severe attacks of the disease. . , So far as nurses were concerned, Mr Fraser said he thought there should be agreement on making tuberculosis an occupational disease bo that it would come under ordinary compensation. What had been done already had been welcomed by the nursing service and had been of greftt help The incidence of the disease i was too high amongst nurses and every effort would be made to reduce it. Shorter hours of work, would be a ,great help. ___».