DREAD OF HOSPITALS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4566, 8 November 1937, Page 5

DREAD OF HOSPITALS

RAPIDLY DYING OUT. MAORIS INTERESTED IN HEALTH SURVEY OF DWELLINGS. The dread of hospitals is very rapidly dying out among Maoris in Taranaki, according to Dr. F. W. W. Dawson, medical officer of health for the Taranaki district. In a recent interview he expressed the opinion that as far as Maoris were concerned, Taranaki was one of the most hospitalminded districts in New Zealand.

He attributed this largely to the popularity and skill of the medical superintendents and staff at the three hospitals, New Plymouth, Stratford and Hawera. Excellent work was also being done by the two Maori nurses who paid systematic visits to pas and other Maori dwellings. “The Maoris are becoming much more interested in their own health,” the doctor declared. He referred also to the great interest in Maori conditions being taken by the Maori Trust Board and the new Maori Council.

Discussing the incidence of tuberculosis among Maoris, he said that there had been a definite decrease in recent years. This was largely due to the fact that they were more prepared to accept treatment and also to the fact that cases were disclosed in their more incipient stages through the systematic visits of the nurses. Regular examinations were also carried out in the schools.