HEALTH NOTES.

Franklin Times, Volume XIX, Issue 39, 5 April 1929, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES.

NURSING SERVICE.

VALUABLE WORK

(Contributed by the Department of Health).

Nursing is a larger development of the mother-care of the young, and must have co-existed with this care from the earliest time. The literal meaning of the word "nurse" is "to nourish." In its broadest meaning it covers not only the ! care of the sick, the aged, the helpless, and the handicapped, but the promotion of health and vigour in those who are well, especially the young growing creatures

on whom the future of the race depends. Thus in the primal significance of the title "nurse" there is the idea of cherishing, treasuring, and building up perfect health, as well as relieving illness, and this latent idea must always have promoted some crude effort toward preventive and hygienic care in nursing work, though only in the more recent years has this complete -aspect of the nurse's work come to be generally recognised, state- the authors of the "Short History of Nursing."

The profession of nursing, which comes into such intimate touch with human life, renders therefore, a most essential service to the community, for in its hands the welfare and safety of national health,' to a great extent, lies. The special purpose of this article is to indicate to the public some nursing activities which have for their objects the education of people in such matters as prevention of disease, reduction of maternal and infant mortality, etc.

Maternal Welfare. To assist those mothers who are tinable to pay the usual fees for medical and nursing attention at the time of their confindment, there have been established St. Helens Maternity Hospitals at Auckland, Gisborne, Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The wives of men who have incomes of less than £350 per year may avail themselves of this service at a small inclusive fee. These hospitals are also training schools for mid-wives and maternity nurses, thu-5 ensuring that the mother will have the best nursing attention. Each institution is in charge of a matron experienced in midwifery, and a part-time private medical practitioner is in attendance daily. Applications for admission should be made to the matron. Ante-Natal Clinics.

Proper early and continuous medical supervision of every mother during her pregnancy has been proved beyond doubt to be beneficial both to the mother and the child. To give this supervision, free ante-natal clinics have been established in connection with all maternity hospitals which are authorised for the training of midwives, at St. Helens hospitals, and by the Plunket Society. The expectant mother who obtains ante-natal advice either from her medical attendant or the clinic is taking those steps so necessary for her own safeguard. The general education of the expectant moihers can therefore be best promoted through seeking ante-natal advice from those specially qualified in this important sphere of work. The value of this care is manifest in the statistics of any obstetric hospital in which there is a well-organised ante-natal clinic. In such hospitals eclampsia and acute toxemias have become very rare. By early recognition and treatment of deviations from the normal the future comfort and health of the mother and child are safeguarded. As a further assurance that the mother is being safeguarded, the work of all maternity hospitals and maternity nurses is regularly inspected and supervised. Tbus such dangers as an outbreak of puerperal sepsis are guarded against. School Children.

The aim of the School Medical Service is to give every child in New Zealand attending a primary school three complete physical examinations during its school career as well as a general supervision of the national school health and environment. The results of these examinations have amply demonstrated the necessity for the work: Though it has been clearly shown that the average of defects found in New Zealand school children is less than in countries of older civilisation, still there is a great deal to be achieved. The work of this service is essentially preventive and educational. This latter aspect is particularly important, as the object is to instruct the pupil while at his most impressionable age in the essential principles j of correct living. Pamphlets on health topics are freely distributed, and it is j the duly of parents to carefully study J and follow the advice given therein. Copies of these are obtainable from the school nurses. If defects are found in school children the practice of the School Medical Service is to notify Ihe [ parents of their existence: it is then' lie duly of the parents Io have Ihese j lefects remedied. Tf is the aim of the j jorvire to secure (be interest and eo- j iperakion of ihe parents, as ii is rea-J ised Ilia! only in this way can Ihe I vork be made ett>e|ivr. m pursuit., f Ibis aim parents are in viler) in he ! resell! ami are welcome al the exam- ' ' l.ilirms nl' llie eliil.l I

District Nurses.

The district nurse is a most important adjunct to the New Zealand hospital system. For the most part these nurses are stationed in the more , remote country districts, where their I services as nurses and midwives are j much sought. It is by means of the | services of such officers that it .s hoped to bring the backblocks more in touch with • the jiospital system of which the district nurse is the outpost. The Maori is one of the few native races in the world living in active contact with civilisation who has not materially decreased in numbers. There is no doubt that work done by the district nurses has largely assisted this condition. Much still remains to be done, but through the co-operation of -the leaders of the Native race, typhoid fever, an ever present menace, is becoming a thing of the past, due to the inoculation programme and the higher standard of sanitation introduced. When one observes how well the Maori women can. nurse their sick in many instances the value of the instructions j given by the district nurses is realised.