FIGHTING DISEASE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 July 1928, Page 5

FIGHTING DISEASE

WORK IN NEW ZEALAND COMBATTING TUBERCULOSIS. PROGRESS IN THE DOMINION. (By Telegraph —I’ress Association.) WELLINGTON, July 29. “Pulmonary tuoerculosis in New Zealand does not constitute a. grave national menace; iewer peopie die from all lorms ot tuberculosis tnan are ki.leu uy iiotence,” says tlie report of the departmental committee of medical experts set up by the Minister or Heal in to investigate the prevention of tuberculosis and tlie accommodation «i patients. The report was presented to Parliament by the Minister this afternoon.

“As far as can be ascertained, »the prevalence of piuriKmary tuberculosis in tbe Dominion is less than in any other country,” tne report states. “substantial progress has been made in adopting measures for its control anu treatment, but pulmonary tuberculosis is an insidious and protracted inlectious disease which will gain ground and become a menace unless constantly repressed. r llie most important contricuticn that can be made to tlie successuil issue of the campaign is the co-ordination or the measures and tue enorts now employed in lighting tlie diseaso.”

The committee recommended that a division ol tuberculosis be established in tbe Health Department, and that a director or the division be appointed. Hospital ooards should be encouraged to establish tuberculosis dispensaries, and the routine use of tuberculin m sanatoria should be discouraged. The medical superintendents of Sanatoria should be urged to admit all cases that would be lively to oenent. Tne stay oi minimal cases should not, as now', he unduly prolonged. The accommodation at the Otalu sanatorium should be increased and extra accommodation should be provided for chronic cases in the special hospitals at Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland. Sufficient accommodation for tuberculous cases should be reserved at the general hospitals in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland lor the benefit of patients and to attord medical practitioners and medical students opportunities for studying these diseases. The medical profession should be encouraged to co-operate with local authorities', the Department of Health, and voluntary aid associations in their efforts to control tne disease. The Ltago Hospital Board should be encouraged to join with the association boards to form one association. The hospital boards in the South IslancL north of Ashburton should, be encouraged to form an association with a committee representative of * each disThe report also recommended that specially trained nurses should be employed for inspection and that the establishment of voluntary aid committees should he encouraged. . It shows that . the present hospital accommodation could bo made adequate if the hospital boards adopted a grouping system, though it would be necessary To provide additional beds _Jorj chronic cases. Home treatment under proper supervision is recommended in many cases, and if patients cannot pay for medical attention at home there should he some means of subsidising medical attention.