HEALTH OF MAORIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19777, 3 November 1938, Page 12

HEALTH OF MAORIS

FAR NORTHERN AREAS

GENERAL STANDARD POOR

“Although it is nearly a year since the first case of measles appeared in North Auckland, the disease is still prevalent in a mild form in many parts, and fresh cases have been notified in Whangarei during the past week,” said Dr. C. B. Gilberd. medical officer of healtb for North Auckland. Dr. Gilberd has just returned from an inspection of the Maori schools in the far north.

“The general standard of health among the Maoris in the far northern districts is poor," said Dr. Gilberd. "Skin diseases are exceptionally prevalent among both adults and children. These diseases are of an infectious nature, and the high incidence is largely due to the conditions in the homes of the Maoris. “The disease is being treated at the schools, but in the home life, where there is overcrowding and a lack of proper hygiene, the conditions tend to nullify tile preventive work being carried out in the schools." Speaking of the Maori children’s teeth. Dr. Gilberd said that in the coastal districts where fish was available for food the teeth of the children was generally good, but in the inland areas where fish was not available, the children’s teeth were in a bad state.