HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16978, 14 April 1917, Page 10

HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

monthly meeting of tho committee of Jk®' oooioty for the Health of Women and Children was held at tho Plunket oflko, when Mrs Can- occupied tho chair. Tho Matron of the Karitano-liarris Hospital reported as follows:—Admissions (babies), 12; mothers, 5; discharged, 17. Of 17 admitted during" fcho month, eight caino from Dunedin district, two from 1 ctono, ono from Oaraaru, two from MosI giel two from jVLiddlcmarch, 0110 from chitha, and ono from Southland. All babies discharged woro very well or making good progress. There were fivo Plunket nurses and 11 Karitano nurses in training during March. Two Plunket nurses and two Karin%*nurfes P ass °d their final examination on March 10—Misses Graham and M'Rae and Misses Peach and Ilendry. Many gifts of jam, cako, fruit, etc., "wero much appreciated, and thanks aro due to Mrs R. r - for babies:' jackets, and to Mrs M George for bootees'. The Plunket nurses report:—Babies under care, 911- new cases for the month, 48; baibies wholly breast-fed, 76; babies partly breast-fed, 67. _ The majority of new* and old cases aro doing very well, but several emaciated babies suffering from severe indigestion requiro daily attention. It was decided to apply for space at the Winter Show and arrange for the Plunket and Karitano nurses to be in attendance for , purposo of bringing tho society's methods to tho notico of tno visitors. Appreciation was expressed at tho very generous gift from tho Invercargill branch of the society of £100 towards tho endowment fund of tho Karitano-llarris Hospital A hearty voto of thanks was accorded tho Hawera branch for a donation of £5 1 ima.ru branch of £25, and the G-isborno branch of £10 towards the expenses of tho same institution.

IJo committee appointed to organise tho Mothers Helpers League reported that a tew names had been handed in as helpers, and several mothers had, through tho PlunKct nurses, welcomed tho scheme. Miss Hancock was appointed Plunket nurse at Masterton from May 1, and Karitano Nurso IToneyfield was appointed actimrIlnnket nurse at Waimato from April 16. Iho resignation of Mrs Gilkison as a member of the executive was received with regret.

Miss G. Hoddinott was appointed joint secretary for the Dunedin branch and tho Central Council.

The maintenance for thb month was £69 las lid.

Tho following' business was dealt with at tip general conferenoo of tho society hold in Wellington last month:—

Tho following resolution was passed and torwarded to tho general manager of railways :—"That the society make representation to the Hon. tho Minister of Railways that the nurses' pass bo made out for use lay any ™ ,rs ® e ?nP l( £?,d by tho pnrticular branch." Mr E H. Hiley replied that he regretted that the request could not bo acceded to. Ihe following resolution was forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture That a closer inspection should be made of all cattle in the liopo of reducing tuberculosis, and that this resolution bo placcd before tho Government for consideration." A reply was received to the effect that tho matter had in the past received the most careful consideration of the department, and was being given close attention at present, notwithstanding the difficulty of doing so during the war. A statement of tho department's activities in this direction would be prepared and forwarded at a later date for the information of tho council. Tho appended resolutions were forwarded to tho Minister of Education:—"That representations _ be made to tho Minister of Education with a view to securing to tho fullest extent for .infants in licensed homos tho advantage conferred on tho more fortunate children of New Zealand through the agency of tho Plunket Society and its nurses." " That this conference is of opinion that, in the certificate of domestic hygiene which every girl must .present before she can sit for matriculation, a knowledge of tho care and feedintr of the baby should find a place." Tho Minister stated that the society's representations would receive his consideration.

Tho following resolutions were forwarded to tho Minister of Public Health:—"That an appeal bo made to the Government to bring in moro comprehensive legislation with a view to combating the insufficiency and impurity of _ the milk supply in many parts of tho dominion, and to ensuring a purer milk supply for infants, especially in the cities."

Tho following remit Was passed by tho conference, with the recommendation that it be placed before tho Government:—"The Hawera branch being strongly of opinion that greater benefit to tho communities would accrue, _ and that money, would be saved at this time when economy is of such importance, if tho matron of each St. Helens Hospital and State maternity hospital was a trained Plunket nurse, recommends that in future, where practicable, the matrons appointed to such institutions should have had a course of training at .the Karitane-liarris Hospital in addition to their other hospital experience: This ought to ensure that student nurses would receive instruction in the best methods of protecting child life, and the knowledge thus acquired would tend- to be widely disseminated."

With reference to the employment of a travelling Plunket nurse, remits were received from Dunedin and Wanganui, and the following resolution was passed:—"That it be a recommendation _ to the Central Council to take into consideration tho employment of a capable, tactful, higMy-trained Plunket nurse who would keep in "intimato touch with Karitane-Harris Hospital, visit all tho branches > from time to time, and confer with and help the committees and resident Plunket nurses regarding the society's work and its extensions. The salary of this travelling nurse to be defrayed by contributions from all the branches."