The Waikato Independent THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1930. SAVE THE MOTHERS.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2307, 6 March 1930, Page 4

The Waikato Independent THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1930. SAVE THE MOTHERS.

New Zealand enjoys the lowest death rate, so far as infants are concerned, in the whole world—a fact of which -we are naturally proud. This result has. undoubtedly been brought about very largely as a result of the magnificent work of the Plunket .Society. When we come to the matter of maternity mortality, however, the Dominion docs not show to the same advantage; in fact our death rate, considering all the circumstances, is somewhat alarming. This is a very serious matter that has engaged the attention of the Health Department arid the various organisations having for their object the welfare of the women of the country. The Obstetrical Society of New Zealand, after four years of active preparation, has now organised an appeal to the public of New Zealand for a fund of £25,000 as an endowment for tire Obstetrical Department of the Dominion Medical School, with the object of ini proming the science and practice of midwifery in the Dominion. This appeal has the hearty support of the * * Prime Minister, the Department of Public Health, and is heartily approved by a great many medical men and others interested in health. Various women’s societies are particularly interested, and are lending their best support to the project, and it is interesting to note that the Queen of our Empire recently sent a message ex-' pressing her interest in the campaign. The facts concerning the present totally inadequate provision made for teach-

ing of midwifery and gynaecology in our New Zealand Medical School, and the aims and objects of the campaign, briefly and concisely set out in an article on page 3, should surely convince all of the urgent need of some bold progressive movement in this direction, anj' elicit the support of all. It is anything but creditable to Now; Zealand that we, who claim to bo progressive and up-to-date, and who have indeed led the way as regards the care and treatment of infants, should be so backward in regard to this important

matter of maternity. The New Zealand

Medical School has for several years , fallen below the requisite standard of | efficiency in midwifery. Obviously*, j then for the welfare of New Zealand women, for the training of the doctors of New Zealand and for the reputation of New Zealand this defect in the midwifery department of the New Zealand Medical School should receive financial assistance prior to any other health claims in the Dominion. The noted London specialist, Mr Victor Bonney, - who visited this Dominion some little time ago, took every opportunity of impressing upon the people of New Zealand the urgent need we had for making better provision in order that the mothers might have a chance. In the course of one of his addresses here he stated:—“ln England, in connection with all our large hospitals we are building maternity hospitals. These perform three functions. First they give the expectant mother adequate * pre-natal'care, and adequate care at the I time of confinement, and also adequate j after care. At the same time they j train the coming doctors in all the best j that science can afford, and in addition they are centres for research in

the problems of maternity. Medicine is divided into three main parts—medicine, surgery, and obstetrics. In your Medical School you have a professor of surgery and a professor of medicine, but no professor of obstetrics. You

have no large maternity hospital at- j Inched to your general hospital. In other words, obstetrics is not given a proper chance. You must realise that as it is the oldest branch- so it is the most important, because with -it is bound up the welfare of the race. Everyone must take an interest in this because it matters so much to every member of the community.-” Coming to the campaign ' itself, it is expected that Auckland will raise £7500 of the £25,000 aimed at. The Government will subsidise all money collected pound for pound, and if the appeal meets with the response and sympathy it deserves it will be possible to found a Chair of Obstetrics in Dunedin, and appoint a good professor of the subject. This is a matter that should have the hearty sympathy and support of everyone. The matter is being taken up by several of our prominent district women and steps are in course of progress with the object of conducting a well-organised campaign in the near future. When the scheme is properly launched, we have no doubt that the Cambridge district residents will rise to the occasion and do their share in this most worthy national effort.