THE PLUNKET SERVICE

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14473, 28 June 1940, Page 2

THE PLUNKET SERVICE

charge nurse explains HOW VAST ORGANISATION OPERATES. The Plunket stall at the Centennial Exhibition, the work of Dr. Helen Deem and an outline of the general work oi ! the Plunket Society in New 'Zealand were the salient points of an address to those present at the annual meeting of the Pahiatua branch of the Society on Tuesday afternoon by Miss Samson, Plunket charge nurse at Wellington. EXHIBITION STALL. Miss Samson, after welcoming the High School girls, gave an interesting description of the Plunket stand at the Exhibition in Wellington. She then went on to say that the stand was always most attractive with glorious flowers and there were fresh food demonstrations each day for children up to the age of five years. Hundreds of thousands passed through the doors during the Exhibition and it was of great educational value to all, both sexes and all classes asking questions. It was all worthwhile in spite of the war and no overseas visitors. Large numbers of babes were fed there—at Christmas time between thirty and for ty were feeding at the one time. Plunket nurses and one Karitane nurse were in attendance all the time and all felt that the exhibit was certainty a real service to the mothers and they had justified their existence if only by helping with the feeding of babes. DR. HELEN DEEM S WORK.

Continuing, Miss Samson explained liow Dr. Helen Deem is travelling all over New Zealand and lias up to date examined 7000 children in their first year of life, there being still 3000 to do before the number will be completed. Dr. Deem has discovered that our. New Zealand children are going to be 21bs heavier and one inch taller than either English or American children. Little New Zealand has had the lowest infant mortality in the world and the same applied to adults. America is watching our Plunket system with envious eyes, but our problems are nothing to England and America with their cosmopolitan population. PLUNKET SERVICE.

The speaker went on to say that there were eighteen centres in Wellington, and mothers had to travel only one mile to visit the nurse at a clinic. Eighty out of every hundred of the children in New Zealand cam© under the care of the Plunket Nurse. Each babe that is born is sent a notice and if it is the wish of the mother the nurse will make a weekly visit to the house until the babe reaches the age of three months, after which time the mother may take the child to the clmic. In her concluding remarks, the speaker stressed the urgent need of the pre-school child remaining under the supervision of a medical officer or Plunket Nurse, and she also urged the committee members to encourage as many mothers as possible to be members of the branch.

Mrs Tattle moved a hearty vote of thanks for Miss Samson’s wonderful address and stated that it had given the committee fresh impetus to carry on in patriotic work. Mrs Paterson said they all appreciated the address and thanks were due to Mrs Jowett and the Wellington branch for allowing her to travel up to Pahiatua. The president also emphasised that as many new members as possible should join this branch. The meeting was closed after which a delicious afternoon tea was served by the committee.