HEALTH OF CHILDREN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 10

HEALTH OF CHILDREN

PARTY SELECTED FOR CAMP DEFECTIVE NUTRITION MORE NOTICEABLE THIS WINTER About 300 city children paraded at the Community Sunshine Association's headquarters in Nelson Street yesterday in order that 90 .might be selected from them for a month in tho association's health camp at Motuibi. Tho fortunate 90 were chosen by three of the Health Department's school medical officers, Drs. Eleanor Bakor-McLaglen, A. Henderson and M. Wilson, who wero assisted by threo nurses. All the children carno from moro or less needy families, 1 and tho fathers of many wero relief workers. Those selected for tho camp were below the normal level of health, for various reasons of which under-nourish-ment was the commonest. A few showed signs of rheumatic trouble and some others wero known to liavo had near relatives suffering from tuberculosis. Speaking of the medical examination Br. Henderson said ho had not found any bad cases of under-nourishment, but a large number of the children showed it in some decree. It was clear that they had not had enough of tho foods that growing boys and girls specially needed "Meat and bread and potatoes aro all very well," he remarked, "but a child wants milk, green vegetables, fruit and, if possible, eggs." No doubt many of tho homes simply could not provide all these things. Under-nourishment of children had been more noticeable this winter than last, no doubt because many families -were in groater straits. However, poverty was not Jlio only cause. As a matter of fact, a group of children selected from speciallydistressed families "two camps ago" had bc|en rather abovo the average of tlia children examined. Probably some mothers did not give their children tho suitable food that tho family income allowed, and others did not know how to prepare it properly. Tho Sunshine Association's camps were thoroughly commended by the doctor, who said tho children picked up wonderfully in the course of a month at Motuihi. and nearly all put on weight. Hie fow who did not respond in this way wero usually kept on for some weeks longer Tho camps had another advantage, that they eased tho mothers' burdens a little and relieved their minds. Some of the mothers that day hail been rather "weepy" and had shown signs of the strain under which they were living. The new batch of children will go to Motuihi next Saturday, and tlioso now in camp will return tho saroa day.