CARE OF INFANTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 August 1938, Page 8

CARE OF INFANTS

NEW ZEALAND WORK PRAISED BY AMERICAN DOCTOR (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 6. Tribute to New Zealand’s work with infants and its general medical services was paid by Dr J. C. Geiger, director of the Department of Public Health, San Francisco, on his arrival at Auckland by the Mariposa. Dr Geiger said the city of San Francisco paid. £4OOO a year to provide a free milk service for undernourished children of indigent parents. The service was copied from one in England, and it served to improve the diet of the children. Moreover, every particle of food entering San Francisco was subjected to thorough inspection by officers of his department. Infant welfare stations were conducted all over the city, offering obstetrical services, and 17 per cent of the babies of San Francisco were taken care of by the department. “It is by such methods that we are able to keep down our infant mortality rate,” said Dr Geiger. “San Francisco is the only city that compares to

any extent with the fine record in this direction maintained by New Zealand. Figures show we are right behind you, .but still behind. The standard of the services in New Zealand is wonderful and such that there is no need to feel ashamed of it. That is why I come out here every so often —to learn something.”