HEROIC NURSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 72, 12 April 1937, Page 5

HEROIC NURSES

•Pre«» Assoaiation.i

Sad Conditions Among the Maoris TQLL OF DISEASE

(By Telesrnph—

AUCKLAND, Last Night. "Contrary to the popular belief puerperal sepsis levies a heavy toll on tho Native ino the r. It is the biggest single cause of death among Maori women, but among European women it is the lowest," said Dr. McMillan, chairman of the Maternity Services Investigation Committee which has just returned from a tour of inspeetion in the North Auckland district. Dr. McMillan paid tribute to the work of nurses aud to Dr. Cook, medical officer -of health in the Whangarei ' district. "During its visit to the North Auckland district," said Dr. McMillan, "the committee had gathered « fund of valuabie information but it obviously had not had an opportunity of formulating any collective conclusions. The impression left in his own J mind was one of the patience, enthusiasm and constrtfctive ability of Dr. Cook, who was doing great work among Natives. "Secondly, I must pay tribute to the •nurses who are working among the Maoris" said Dr. McMillan. "The people of New Zealand have no conception of the wonderful work that is being carried on by those girls undei most exacting circumstances. If the history of nursing and medical services in the northern rural areas ever comes to be written it will be an epic of heroism and strength of character worthy of tho best .traditions of any country. ' ' The urgent need of the Maoris in that district was adequate housing, including facilities for storing and heating water. Until that was done little could be aceomplished in the social, economic or medical spheres. "One must admire the fortitude of . the Maori women under the most hopeless conditions of overcrowding in poor, decrepit and primitive dwellings," said Dr. McMillan. "On the medical side tuberculosis i's the biggest problem and one cannot but be affected by the sight of youug Native children with advanced chest infections and with painful, infected and def ormed joints,u in many cases their only medical attention being the periodical visits of the nurse. "In its determination to place the Maori people upon a healthy, useful and productive footing the Government has cerfainly taken on a man-sized job,"concluded Dr, McMillan.