The Plunket Society Asks Help

Southland Times, Issue 23026, 21 October 1936, Page 4

The Plunket Society Asks Help

The pride taken by New Zealand people in their country’s infant mortality record —it has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world—is not always accompanied by practical support of the organization which has established that record, the Plunket Society. To-day, by their response to a street appeal, the people of Invercargill will have an opportunity to show that they at least are not ungrateful. The revenue of the society’s local branch from ordinary sources is insufficient to meet its expenses, and although the committee has always been reluctant to make direct appeals to the public it finds itself unable to maintain the present service without outside help. There is a tendency to take for granted the work of the society and of those who administer it. No doubt many who receive benefits are under the impression that it is a Govei-nment institution. Although the Government does subsidize the salaries of Plunket nurses and assists in the maintenance of Karitane homes, a heavy financial responsibility rests on the local committee. At least £5OO a year is required if its activities are not to be curtailed. Just how comprehensive these activities are may be gauged from the last annual report. At the Plunket rooms and at outstations the visits of 9807 adults, 9194 babies and 1202 older children were recorded. The Plunket nurses paid 4946 visits to homes in the city area. At the Karitane-Hunt hospital 114 babies and 56 mothers were admitted during the year. No fee is asked for the services of Plunket nurses and no baby or mother' is refused admittance to the hospital because of inability to pay. Nurses go out in any kind of weather charged with the duty of giving reliable instruction and assistance to any member of the community desiring their services. Not only do they devote care to the health and well-being of mothers and babies but they try to advise parents in domestic hygiene. The society has set itself the vitally important task of conserving the health and strength of the rising generation. The benefit of its work to the Dominion cannot be estimated in pounds, shillings and pence, but pounds, shillings and pence are urgently needed to maintain it. It will be surprising if the people of Invercargill do not give liberally to so worthy a cause-