Venereal Disease

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XII, Issue 3, 1 July 1919, Page 128

Venereal Disease

New Measures m New Zealand

(From the " Dominion.")

The Hon. G. W. Russell made a statement on Saturday giving some account of the new measures being taken by the Public Health authorities m this country to fight the menace of venereal disease. ' To cheek the spread of venereal disease m the Dominion," said the Minister, 4 the Public Health Department has requested the various hospital boards throughout the Dominion to start special venereal clinics m the hospitals under their control, The necessity for such clinics was emphasised owing to eases arising out of war conditons. The clinics are held m the evening, and are open to civilians as well as military patients. They are conducted on strictly confidential lines, and any civilian desirous of obtaining treatment will be given all information m reference thereto on application to the medical superintendent of the hospital m his district.

Whilst it is compulsory for military patients to attend these clinics till they are cured, the attendance of civilian patients is voluntary. The Health Department has reported that it is necessary that compulsory measures be adopted m reference to civilian venereal cases, and with this m view I propose asking Parliament to pass a Bill giving the necessary powers.

Such measures are now. 1 am informed, m force m New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, and if New Zealand is to., keep these dread diseases m check it is necessary that legal power be given to enforce the compulsory registration and treatment of all persons affected.

' The organisation of these clinics has been placed m the hands of a specially trained medical officer, who has returned to New Zealand for tho purpose from England by the military authorities, and who is now attached to the Health Department. This officer has visited all the main centres m the North Island, and the clinics are now working there. At present he is on a similar mission to thc South Island hospitals. Three other medical men are arriving shortly to assist on the work, after having gone through special training.

"In order to get a definite system of treatment of cases, the Health Dopartmept has published a pamphlet which has been posted to all medical practitioners m the Dominion. Any medical practitioner requiring particulars re venereal disease will get tho same on application to the Officer m Charge of Contagious Diseases, Health Department, Wellington."