Natives District Nursing

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 4, 1 October 1915, Page 199

Natives District Nursing

The enteric outbreak m the North still continues, Nurse Fergusson seems to have barely overcome the difficulties m one corner than she must hurry to begin the same m another. Extra assistance has been provided both at Whangape and on the Eastern side, near Kaeo. A partially trained nurse sent to assist Nurse Naera, at Whangapi, developed typhoid m a mild form, and had to be sent to Rawene Hospital. She had not unfortunately been inoculated. All Natives District Nurses must now be inoculated for their own protection. There have been nearly fifty cases of typhoid since February, at Whangape, while m the Kaingas near Kaeo, forty-six have been reported since August. Nurse Oakden, of the Waikato district, is assisting Nurse Fergusson at present on the Eastern side, while it has been necessary to send Nurse McKinven from Thames to Hokianga, where there is yet another outbreak — ■ twelve cases so far having been reported. There were many deaths before the nurses appeared on the scene, the operations of tohungas no doubt contributing largely to this, while a few have died m the tem-

porary hospitals. Typhoid is indeed the scourge of the Maori Kaingas, and the necessity for the district nurses to concentrate on this strenuous nursing, when they are handicapped by the disorganisation of so many Maori homes, does not permit of our nurses doing so much m other directions, where they could teach that prevention is better than cure.. Nurse Bertram of Hawera, has been busy with enterics m her district also; Nurse Naera has now relieved her for her annual holiday. Nurse Te Au who went to assist Nurse Beetham from Otaki, is at present recovering from typhoid contracted while assisting at Normanby. Nurse J. Robinson, trained m England, where she was a Queen's Nurse fo many years, has been appointed to the Rotorua position. We hope shortly to have on our staff as Assistant District. Nurse, Nurse Ngaro Ngapo, who qualified at Hamilton Hospital last June. Nurse Naera will then enter St. Helens Hospital, for her midwifery training.