LESSENING N.Z. MATERNAL MORTALITY

Chronicle (Levin), 28 May 1946, Page 4

LESSENING N.Z. MATERNAL MORTALITY

IMPORTANCE OF DECREASING ILLNESS . "The more highly tiained our doctors, the more prospect there is oi lessening the maternal mortaliity and of decreasing the chance of ensuing illness or permanent disability," said Sir Carrick Robertson, the eminent New Zealand surgeon, speahing on the O. and G. Campaign, which has as its objeet the endowment of a professorial chair in obstetrics and gynaeology at the Auckland Hospital for Women, and the appointment thereto of a professor of outstanding ability to direct lectures and research in these subjects. "This latter is of equal import- ' ance to the birth rate, for should the mother of the family not be an good health, how can we have that happiness in the home which is • essential to the well-being of the nation? Some of the illnesses and disabilities incidental to maternity are avoidable — some, in the present stage of our knowledge are unavoidable. It will he natural to hope that as a result of the success of this appeal, avoidable illnesses will be much reduced, and perchance some of the unavoidable causes of maternal illness will have sufficient light thrown upon them to put them in the avoidable class." The O. and G. campaign is being conducted in Levin from Thursday next until June 8.