HEALTH PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23791, 19 October 1940, Page 12

HEALTH PLANS

POSITION IN BRITAIN HOPEFUL SURVEY SAFEGUARDING THE PEOPLE By Telegraph—Press Association I —Copyright British Wireless LONDON, Oct. 17 A heartening survey of the health of Britain was given in the House of Commons by the Minister of Health, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, who stated that in Ihe disturbing situation of 19:39, which included eight months of uneasy peace and four months of war, the health of the nation had been uniformly good. During the year the number of children in England and Wales who died before their first birthday was 50 per 1000. the lowest figure ever recorded. The same could be said of the maternal mortality rate, which had fallen to 2.82 per 1000 births.

Heavy Strain ol War The death rate from all forms of tuberculosis of 6-'s(i per 1.000.000 was one per 3,000.000 higher than in 1938, but less than half the figure of 1911. ''The worst visitation of J9-'ii) was the outbreak of war." said .Mr. Mac Donald. "At its very beginning it throw a now kind of strain upon our health services, which tbe.v successfully withstood and which showed their adaptability to circumstances. "The evacuation of 7.'50.000 children and '120.000 mothers from industrial cities of Britain was a large migration of people from populous areas where necessary special medical services were located. Children in Country "The sojourn of London and other city children under evacuation schemes in the country has had a most stimulating effect on their physical wellbeing. Fresh air lias made them taller heavier and more resistant to illness.''

Dealing with tin; strain of the heavy German raids in recent weeks, All'. MacDonald said:

"As is well known, tlio numbers of casualties aiv slight, in comparison to the strenuous and wanton efforts which Gorman airmen are making. At this moment some 5->0 hods in wards are tilled by air raid casualties, but it would he a mistake in l'eel too much assurance from this fact. Greater Suffering Possible "It- would he foolish to assume we shall not suffer worse before the enemy is finally beaten hack and smashed on the soil of Germany itself."

Dealing with the problem of large mini hers spending nights in shelters for protection against enemy air attack, "a problem which looms out of the winter darkness just ahead." Mr. Mac Donald said: "Already some 189.000 schoolchildren, about, ol! per cent of the whole school-children population in the London evacuation areas, have lett.

"At present, mothers and children are all leaving London at the rate ot several thousands daily, while every few days now we are taking some hundreds of aged and infirm, who constitute one of the most difficult problems in the shelters, to be cared for in hospitals and homes found for them in the country. Comfort in Shelters "It is of supreme importance that night dwellers in shelters should be able to lie down in comfort and sleep the sleep oi the just. I hat state ot affairs will be achieved in the very near future when bunks have been set up"A healthy standard oi sanitary equipment is being provided and a medical officer ol health in each borough is being held responsible for seeing that a frequent inspection oi each public shelter is made. In each shelter holding more than 500 people, there will be a first aid post, equipment and ample supplies."

PILOT HONOURED BAR TO DECORATION Hrilish Win-less LONDON'. Oct. 17 Among the Royal Air Force awards announced to-day is n bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to Pilot-* Wiei-r A. C. Lewis, who was born in Kimborley, South Africa. The citation slated: "On September 27, Pilot-Ollieer Lew is destroyed six enemy aircraft. This makes a total of IS destroyed by him. His courage and kooncss are outstanding."