MEDICAL INSPECTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 76, 24 December 1918, Page 6

MEDICAL INSPECTION

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

ASSISTING THE PARENTS

Tho importance of the medical inspection of school children, in the .eenipj' as well as in the junior classes, has been emphasised lately by the epidemic and by the recruiting statistics, showing the high proportion of.unfit men of military age in the Dominion. The subject is dealt with at some length in the annual report of the Minister of Education, covering chiefly the operations of the Education Department during the year 1917. "The work of medical inspection has been proceeded with vigorously," says the Minister. "About 15,000 children have been medically examined, being principally the children at present in Standard 11. As this plan has been followed during the past,five years, a large proportion of tho children from Standards H to VI in the schools visited should have been, medically examined and their physical defects brought under the notice of'their teachers and parents. In addition to this, a number of children from various classes are annually examined by the medical inspectors when the head teacher renorls that special circumstances require such examination. It is gratifying to report that the work of medical inspection has rapidly earned the approval and sunnort of parents, teachers, and educational authorities, all of whom recognise the Department's efforts in this connection towards providing that a healthv. vigorous, and efficient physique may characterise the future, men and women of New Zealand. "The staff of school medical inspectors has been increased to seven, thus enabling a larger number 6f schools, especiallv country schools, to he visited. The medical inspectors have shown great enthusiasm and energy in carrying out their duties. That their efforts are highly appreciated is shown from tho fact that from 60 to 75 per cent, of .the cases renorted bv the medical inspectors have been attended to by the parents by their obtaining the necessary medical or dental treatment for their childrev. Comparison with the results noted m previous years shows that the percentage of cases treated ns a result of reports by medical inspectors is steadily increasing. Tn New Zealand tho chief requirement in connection with the medical and dental treatment seems to be the provision of adequate facilities ata reasonable cost in country areas whore such fne'Jities are at present largely nonexistent. To meet (his need it will be pecessarr first'of Jill to increase further tho staff of school medical inspectors, so as to he able to cover the whole ground more rapidly and tn pay repeated visits where necessary. It will also be necessary to make provision, for school dentists to visit, outlying localities so as to treat children at their own school for a verv moderate charge. Plans have alrwulv been made, for providing such facilities, but it has been found impossible to obtain the services of suitaide dentists owing to the stress of war conditions.

"Some arrangement will.-also need to be made for placing the services of medical men more easi.lv within tl\e reach of residents in nntlyim? districts. This provision is needed not only for Hip of school children. b"t for the benefit of the adults of the localities referred to. ' The nationalisation of tho medical services of the Dominion, with the consequent more even dislriImtion of medical men, would be one way of. (o some extent, mpefing the needs of the case. It is quite possible that -in some cases it would b° tiocfssarv to provide dental and medical treatment free, and under certain circumstances this should be dona. Provided, however, that the services 'of medical and dental practitioners are placed easily within the reach of all parents at a mod- I erato cost, it seems desirable from every point of view, that parents should accent the responsibility of -nring for the health of their children. From "the results ?' ready noticed in New Zealand, it Is gratifying to find that parents in the Dominion gladly accept this responsibility. In most eases where medical insn"ctors have had to report unfavourably on tho clothing or nutrition of children it hasibeeh found, that defects have been due more to ignorance or want of supervision on the part of the parents than to necessitous., circumstances, and, as has been stated, a confidential report from the med ; cal inspector generally has 1 th" desired effect. I

"In order to assist,parents in this important work the Department has secured the services of ten highly-qualified school nurses. The nurses are present during the medical inspection of the children, and have pointed out to them bv the medical inspector cases that could be dealt with by. the parents. Subsequently the nurses visit the home of the children and show-the parents how to apply simple dressings, to treat simple ailments, and to provide suitable diet and clothing for the children., The nurses have also been able, in a large number of cases, to follow up the medical inspector's reports, and to induce parents to provide, medical or dental treatment where this would otherwise, have been .neglected. The nurses are generally welcomed by the parents, who regard "them as frieiu]s and advisers. The medical inspectors have given further direct assistance by delivering lectures to parents on the means of providing for the physical welfare of their children. These' lectures 'are been well attended, and have been highly appreciated. Leaflets and pam. pmefs have also been distributed where required, giving simple directions to parents regarding the enre of the teeth and skin, on the treatment of simple ailments, on the diet, clothing, sleepin" and other requirements of children - . The medical -inspectors also give resmlar lectures nn .the work of medical insneetion and on _ physical welfare of children to the training college students, and also, where possible, to groups of other teachers.

Speaking generally, it mav be stated that the work of medical iiisnection of children is already hearing fruit, and that there is distinct evidence that in the short period during which the system has been in operation (he physical welfare of the children'of New Zealand has been noticeably benefited."