EASILY CURABLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19364, 30 June 1937, Page 15

EASILY CURABLE

NATIVE SKIN DISEASE DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS Every effort is being made by the Health Department to wipo out native skin diseases in country schools, according to a statement by an official oi the Health Department in Auckland. The danger of children in country schools owing to Maori children from nearby settlements suffering from impetigo was emphasised at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board last week. “Tn the past two or three years the Health Department lias increased its country nursing staff considerably,” said the official. “Treatment is being carried out, in country districts and a great deal of valuable ‘work is being done. One difficulty , that presents itself is the fact that Maori children go home for their holidays and return to school with these sores. Then they have to 'be treated all over again.” Much was at present being done for Maori hygiene, said tho official. Special attention was being paid to impetigo, or tlio sores which develop on arms, legs and faces. The greatest difficulty was that many rtf the Maoris, in -their homes, did not have the facilities for keeping properly clean. In various country schools, baths bad been installed so that the necessary sulphur treatment could be earned out. The disease was easily curable with vigorous treatment. It could be almost entirely wiped out. “The disease is not as serious as it is made out to he,” said tho official. “It can lie cleared up. but a great deal depends on getting tho Maori houses improved. When that is done there should be little impetigo.”