HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 50

HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Committee of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held in the Plunket office on Friday morning. There weie present Mesdames Johnstone (in the chair), Traby King, Jos. M'George, Gallaway, John Ross, Carmalt Jones, Aiken, J. C. M'George, Arundel, Miss Joachim, and the secretary. Apologies were received from Mesdames Solomon, Mandeno, Ansell Hodson, Rattray, and Miss Gow. Subscriptions and donations received during the month included two membership fees from Ahmedabad, India. The following is an extract from a letter from the Sanitary Association, Ahemadabad, asking for copies of the society's proceedings:—"lndia and the civilised world has to learn and copy much from your institution, and your work for the babies is really admirable. Baby welfare work will have much to borrow from what you have done, with the best results possible."

Letters were also received from Mohammerah, South Persia, and from Canada. The letter from Persia was from a Mohammedan, who had lost all but one of his children in infancy. After reading in a magazine the work of the society, he came to tho conclusion that th» children had died through ignorance with regard to upbringing, and he asked for the society's publications. Dr Helen MacMurchy, chief of the newlycreated Infant Welfare Bureau of Canada, wrote from Ottawa asking for the literature of the society relating to propaganda and for information with regard to Baby Week Exhibition, etc. The Matron of the Karitane-Harris Hospital reported for the month ended July 81:—Admitted during the month, 12; discharged, 9; in residence on July 31, 16. All babies discharged were in excellont condition, with one exception, and this one was discharged. at the parents' request. The following presented themselves for examination and passed:—Nurses C. M'Lean, Bonnelly, Searle, and Barry. The following completed then- course of Plunket training: Nurses Fleming, Petersen, Donnelly, Searle, and O. M'Lean.

The Plunket nurses for the north and central districts reported for the month of July as follows:—Number of babies on the list, 606; number of now cases for the month (babies only), 27; number of visits paid to homes, 507.

Tho Plunket nurses for the South Dunedin district reported as follows: —Babies on the list, -144; visita to homes, 238. The Plunket nurses reported that there had been a good deal of sickness during the month. Measles and whooping cough were prevalent.

The appointment of Plunket Nurse E. S. Allan, of Grisborne, aa matron of the Kari-tane-Harris Hospital, was confirmed. Nurse Allan is expected to take up duty at the beginning of next month. Arrangements were made by the executive for Plunket Nurse Thomson to take duty in Giaborna, vice Nurse Allan, until a permanent appointment could be made.

Mrs Johnstone reported that Miss Pattrick, who i 3 taking' up the poaition as director of Plunkot nursing-, would be in Dunedin some time during next month. Miss Pattrick, before going on active service, was matron of the Karitone-Haxria Hospital, and was relieved from war sorvico to take charge of the babies of tbo Estnpire Hospital at Earl's Court, London, during the time that Vt Truby King.was organising baby welfare work in Emglau'd.

Appreciative reference was made by the committee to the appointment of Dr Truby King as director of ohild welfare for the dominion in connection with the Public Health Department.

The resignation of Staff-Cap tain Park as a member of the committee was accepted with .regret, owing to her departure from Dunedin. Commandant Simpson, her successor as matron of Redroofs Maternity Hospital, was unanimously elected in her place