CHILD WELFARE

Southland Times, Issue 20043, 3 December 1926, Page 8

CHILD WELFARE

AN IMPORTANT WORK

PROGRESS IN MODERN HYGIENE

FOSTERING NATION’S MOST VALUABLE ASSET

Paradoxical as it may seem, the public generally is inclined to view with suspicion any scheme promoted which has as its objective the welfare of the community and when the benefit of these schemes is conferred upon them without their having to incur any financial obligations, the suspicion is liable to develop into hostility. It was this tendency to decry any suggestions of reform that presented such a formidable obstacle to those who, many years ago, sought to awaken in the public mind the need for paying some attention to the young life of the community. Tfi.e suggestion for some action along these lines was received without enthusiasm, the originators of the proposals being told that they were before the times.

It was not until the war years, when the flower of the Dominion’s manhood was being sacrificed on the battlefields, that people began to realise that everything possible must be done for those who, in a few years, would be called upon to shoulder the cares and responsibilities of administration. Then it was that some attention was paid to those whose voices were crying in the wilderness as it were.

“A nation’s health is a nation’s wealth.” This quotation was the basis of a strong recommendation made by the Southland Education Board to the Education Department in 1916. The board suggested that schools should be visited once a year, the assistance of the medical profession being sought if the department’s officers were unable to cope with the work entailed. Another point stressed was that the Government saw fit. to protect birds and beasts; why not the health of the children ? Therefore, in the interests of both child and State every effort should be made to make the inspection of schools thorough and effective.

To these arguments the department turned a sympathetic car and eventually a scheme was formulated and put into practice. To-day three specialists are working for the child—the medical officer, the dental nurse and the physical instructor. It is recognised that so far as the dental clinics are concerned there yet remains a vast amount of work to be done, especially in regard to the country children, but the department seems reluctant to incur the enormous expenditure involved in the wholesale distribution of clinics throughout the country. However, the champions of juvenile welfare state that if the money can be found for other works it can be found for the children. Without launching into a tirade against the department for what it has done, it might be as well to mention the work that has been done. In the past far too little attention has been bestowed on the work done for the children and it is only just that the public should make some effort to appreciate what has been done and, more important still, what is being done. MEDICAL INSPECTION. Since anti-diphtheric immunisation treatment was commenced Doctor Rosa Collier, the Southland Education Board’s medical officer, has immunised approximately 2000 children. People have hesitated in some cases to send their children for treatment but it has to be remembered that the epidemics at Kaitangata provide sound reason for the carrying out of this harmless operation. Not one child that had received treatment at Kaitangata was attacked by the disease. Further comment seems superfluous. THE DENTAL CLINICS. The figures for the year’s work will not be available for a fortnight or so but the tally of cases for November gives a good idea of the amount of work accomplished. During the period named the operations carried out were as follow: fillings 260; minor treatments 135; temporary extractions 260, permanent extractions 8. When a representative of the Southland Times visited the surgery yesterday two small patients were undergoing treatment ; again when a visit was paid to procure the above figures, two more small charges were receiving similar attention. Not a murmur was heard from one of the four—as much a tribute to the gentleness of the* nurses as to the efficacy of early treatment. Far from exhibiting any signs of discomfort these young patients sat there with an air of contentment that brought an unvoluntary sigh of envy from their visitor. In regard to the receiving of early treatment Miss Kirkpatrick said she wished to correct an erroneous impression. “Some people believe,” she said, “that treatment does not commence until the child is nine yeara of age. This is incorrect. The child is taken in the infant department and the work is done right up to standard six.” Miss Kirkpatrick said that they noticed a great deal of improvement in the condition of the children’s teeth when going round the schools. They would, however, like to see more interest in the work taken by the parents. A plain simple diet was recommended by Miss Kirkpatrick who stated that this seemed most beneficial. The teeth on the whole were better and less dental treatment was necessary. The use of salt and water was recommended by the Health Department for the cleaning of teeth. They noticed that where tooth pastes had been left aside better teeth resulted. Parents would be well advised to take greater interest in the literature provided by the Health Department, said Miss Kirkpatrick. “I wish to thank most heartily the medical officer, Dr. Collier, and the teachers for the most valuable help given us,” she said in conclusion. PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION. Last but not least is the physical instruction given the children and for this Mr F. J. Cree is mainly responsible. Mr Cree has more than once expressed himself as • well satisfied with the work of his charges and this is amply borne out by Mr Langworth, director of physical instruction in New Zealand, who stated recently that the drill in Southland was better than in any other part of the Dominion. JUVENILE COURT. In conclusion it may not be out of place to mention the institution of the Juvenile Court. This court has been set up in the interests of the children and to them it extends the cloak of anonymity giving every juvenile offender the chance of starting again with a clean slate.

The ultimate goal of the idealists as far as child welfare is concerned is still some distance away, but enough has been done to make people realise that their support in child welfare movements is not merely desirable but a necessity.