CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 4

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

PRECAUTIONS IN DUNEDIN SCHOOLS

POLIOMYELITIS OUTBREAK Disturbing reports from the north indicate almost daily that the infantile paralysis epidemic has defied all seasonal bounds and continues to take its toll through the winter months. Otago has, so far, been extremely fortunate in that only one positive case has been recorded during the past year, but anxiety still prevails in the minds of many parents of growing' children as they read of the growing number of cases in Canterbury. Inquiries made by the Daily Times yesterday indicate that no special instructions regarding precautionary measures have been issued to Dunedin schools, the need not having made itself apparent. Nevertheless, teachers in some schools at least have made it their business to watch their pupils closely, and every effort is being made to see that the rules of hygiene are observed, as a preventive measure. The medical officer of health, Dr G. O. L. Dempster, told the Daily Times that schools were inspected regularly. The need for proper care of toilet facilities, and the provision of adequate wash basins, was stressed to the education authorities. These were not special precautions, but part of the routine work of ensuring that the standard of health among school children was maintained at a high level. In the schools themselves many teachers are making a point of watching the interests of their pupils. At the least sign of any ailpient the children are sent home. Hygiene is regularly taught in class, and training in such essentials as liand-washing is carried out. Many schools, the Daily Times was informed, are swept out with distinfectant-impregnated sawdust. In other schools a disinfectant floor oil is used, and in at least one intermediate school the premises are sprayed with disinfectant once a week. One' of the headmasters approached, Mr A. M. Davidson, of the Macandrew Intermediate School, said that all the precautions already mentioned were being taken at his school. He further said that an interest was taken in the food eaten by children, as it was important that resistance to disease should be built up by the eating of suitable food.

“Every school in New Zealand should have an arrangement by which all its pupils are served with a hot meal at mid-day every school day in the winter. The Education Department should subsidise cafeterias in schools,” said Mr Davidson. At Macandrew Intermediate the precept advocated by Mr Davidson is put into practice, arid during the winter months soup is provided at noon. The vegetables used in the preparation of the soup are all grown in the school garden. “Apart from the vitamin value, the scheme is important, as it is one means of teaching children that society is an interdependent structure,” said Mr Davidson. "The children work in the garden and then receive the fruits of their labour. If the lesson could be universally taught we would not have so many people failing to pull thpir weight-”