PLUNKET AIDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 179, 1 August 1941, Page 2

PLUNKET AIDS

TRAINING CLASSES TO START THIS MONTH CARING FOR CHILDREN IN EMERGENCY. There has been a good response from Wanganui women to the appeal for volunteers to receive training in mothercraft so that Plunket nurses may be relieved if they are required for o.her purposes in an emergency and so that children who might be deprived of parental care ana control in such circumstances may be looked after by women who are qualified to give them the greatest care.

The scheme has been devised by the Dominion Council of the Plunket Society and in Wanganui arrangements are being made for those women who are willing to undergo training to attend classes in mothercraft which will be given in the Plunket Society rooms. 'The senior Plunket nurse, Miss B. Ogden, has undertaken to take classes of up to 30 trainees and wit|j the increasing numbers who are expected to enrol, will be assisted by two other nurses.

Registrations are being received by the Women’s War Service Auxiliary in Wanganui and after to-day the number of enrolments will enable Mrs. Beaumont Bates, who is appealing for members, and the Plunket nurse to make more complete arrangements for classes which are to begin on August 12.

Altogether it is expected that it will be possible to deal with about 90 trainees at the Wanganui Plunket Rooms. Mrs Beaumom Bates recently addressed members of the Child Welfare Branch of the E.P.S. organisation and emphasised the need for them to take the training in child welfare that was available to them. When the volunteers are properly trained they will be known as Plunket Aids and they will be required to assist with babies and children who need care and attention in times ot emergency. A scheme is being formulated whereby each street in Wanganui will have a child welfare warden so that children may be taken to a depot where they can be looked after while their parents are engaged in other work or are unable to give their own personal supervision.