PUBLIC HEALTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 8 March 1943, Page 4

PUBLIC HEALTH

DISEASE IN WAR TIME PRESENT-DAY STRAIN DOMINION HAS BEEN FORTUNATE Wellington, This Day. The health of the people under the strain of wartime conditions and the incidence of disease were reviewed in an address last night by the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer. He said that while the war had added to the difficulties in maintaining public health the Dominion had been fortunate that its effects had been so slight. New Zealanders were more fortunate than many people realised, even if they did not have the boundless selection of food available before the war, said the Minister. Bread, milk, butter, cheese, oatmeal, and potatoes were still in full supply. There was a shortage of citrus fruits, eggs were sometimes difficult to obtain, and winter vegetables none too plentiful, all largely due to war commitments. The smaller number of doctors caring for the people’s health and the overcrowding in hospitals were due to similar reasons. With so many young men away from the country it was inevitable that the general sickness average should rise, as in many cases those left behind to do the work were men and women past their prime who could not stand the extra strain and this brought in train an inevitable crop of ailments. HEALTH OF CHILDREN War also affected the health of childern and records showed it was not so good as it was a year ago. Notwithstanding the additional efforts of the Government in caring for children’s teeth, providing free milk and apples at school in season, there was apparently an increase in the # number of children who required a period in health camps to restore vitality. The Minister said the civilian population had fortunately been free from serious epidemics. Scarlet fever and diphtheria figures had shown a downward trend. There was an increase in the number of cerebro-spinal meningitis cases last year following the outbreak in North Auckland district. There were 852 cases, but owing to treatment with the sulphonamide groups of drugs the death rate was relatively low, only 112 cases succumbing. A few years ago the rate would have been higher. New Zealand was never entirely free from meningitis find infantile paralysis, the latter being apt to come in waves. UPWARD TREND ARRESTED Due to a vigorous campaign by the Health Department in co-operation with the police it had been possible to arrest the upward trend of venereal disease. In 1941 there were 403 new cases of syphilis and 327 last year, and i n the same years the new cases of gonorrhea were 1511 and 1295 respectively, the last-mentioned being the lowest since 1925. The notifications of cases of tuberculosis last year, raid Mr Nordmeyer, showed an increase, but this was not necessarily an indication that this disease was on the increase as the X-ray examination of men and women of the armed forces had revealed cases which otherwise would have gone unsuspected and might never might developed sufficiently to affect unduly the ordinary life of the patient. It was believed possible to banish tuberculosis from this country, and vigorous methods would be used in the fight against this disease.—P.A.