TOLL OF DISEASE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 17 December 1947, Page 8

TOLL OF DISEASE

NEW RECORD SET HEALTH SERVICES PRAISED (P.A) WELLINGTON, Dec. 17. “Most mothers are anxiously watching the slow progress of infantile paralysis over the last few weeks.” says a Christmas message to New Zealand issued by the Minister of Health, Miss M. Howard. “Turn this anxiety into watchfulness for colds, upset stomachs, headaches and fever and separate the off-colour one from the rest of the family while you call a doctor and wait for a diagnosis.” the Minister states. ‘‘lf no one in the family is indisposed and all are wanting to make the most of the holidays, see that your household at an- rate take .trios or picnics so they will mix with others as little as possible. In these ways you will bo assisting to slow down and curb the present outbreak, particularly if you keep yourselves to yourselves these holidays.

“Next year I hope we will make some progress against another disease —tuberculosis. That really calls for action. for it is taking a toll of up to 2(1 deaths each week while two new cases are b ni ng found each day. Our plans call for much wider diagnostic and X-ray facilities and for the training of more expert workers to enable this extension of the attack on this enemy. The disease attacks certain groups more than others, and.ways and means of immunising certain groups are being investigated. “Then there is Ihe nuestion of the satisfactory rehabilitation of the recovered still to be tackled and solved. I hope for some progress next year. “It is getting safer for mothers and babies in our country. I give you this good news that although there have been difficulties with our maternity services in insufficient, accommodation and shortage in skilled nursing there has been less clanger to mothers throughout the year. “Our births for the nine months ended September 30 last are a record — 33,277 against 29.062 for the same period of last year. Not only have we had more infants, we have saved more. Un to the date mentioned we have an infant mortality of 24-94 per 1000 live births, a wonderfully low new record for us. In 1946 the rate was 26.10 infant deaths per 1000 live births, so last year’s record low rate was again reduced.

“Of course, these figures are tentative being for the nine months only, but it looks like being a record year for babies.

“Mothers have been safer, too, than ever before in our history if the first nine months’ figures prove typical for the whole year, as I expect they will. The total of 37 deaths of mothers in that time of which six were from septic abortion gives us a new low rate per 1000 live births of 0.21 deaths from septic abortion and 0.90 from childbirth, making the total maternal death rate 1.11 as against 2.05 per 1000 live births last year (of which 0.29 were from septic abortion and 1.76 from childbirth.

“So there is the wonderful news that we have more living mothers and more healthy babies than ever before in spite of the record birth rate and our difficulties about maternity accommodation.

“Our medical and nursing services achieved these wonderful results. You should know this and be happy, for there is no doubt that the mother holds the key position with regard to the health of the country.”