MATERNAL WELFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25734, 4 January 1945, Page 4

MATERNAL WELFARE

NEW ZEALAND’S FORESIGHT PRAISE BY ENGLISH JOURNAL A tribute to New Zealand’s foresight in providing for the welfare of newlyborn babies and their mothers, with a resultant decline in the infant mortality rate, is contained in an illustrated article appearing in the latest issue of the English publication War in Pictures. The magazine outlines the growth of the Plunket Spciety in New Zealand, and makes special mention of the foundation work undertaken in Dunedin under the direction of Sir The article is entitled Child Welfare in Peace and War: New Zealand s Great Record,” and the following are some excerpts:—“A healthy climate and an enlightened people have led New Zealand to the lowest infant mortality rate in the world. In the field of child welfare New Zealand is one of the most progressive countries in the world. The country’s record is not due to the benign climate alone; the enlightened measures in maternal and infant welfare (both Government and voluntary) which have been instituted in the Dominion must take the larger share of credit. “New Zealand has always been a forward-looking Dominion. It was, therefore, no break with tradition when care of the young was organised as a national function in 1907. In that year Dr Truby King (later Sir Truby) sponsored a baby hospital and dietetic training centre for infant welfare nurses in Dunedin. Dr King was not the first in the field; the Government had overhauled the question of widwives and their training some years previously, and State maternity hospitals had been provided with nominal fees for patients. Yet it was Dr King who provided the accent upon pre-natal care and education and the importance of scientific 1 mothercraft ’ for the welfare of the newly-born babe. “ Under the patronage of Lady Plunket, the wife of New Zealand’s Governor of the time, Dr King founded the Royal New Zealand Sociqty for the Health of Women and Children, which is generally known as the Plunket Society. It was assured of success and continued life by State support and the quick response of the social-minded New Zealanders. Its work is mainly to train nurses and young mothers in ‘mothercraft’ and equip nurses to advise mothers ante-natally and up to the school age of the child. It was the first expression of the view that medical care begins before the child is born and continues for long after. Truby King infant nurses in their special uniforms are working in Britain and other countries outside New Zealand.” The article also refers in terms of commendation to the manner in which, since the early days of the Dominion, a constant interest in the health of its young people has been maintained by successive Governments. Reference is made to the free milk scheme, the medical and dental examination of children," and other matters in connection with health and general welfare. “ The Dominion,’’ the article concludes, “ although engaged in a grim struggle for her security, recognises that her children of to-day will be her citizens of to-morrow, and that their happiness and prosperity will depend upon their health and vitality.”