OBSTETRICAL APPEAL.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 42, 27 March 1930, Page 3

OBSTETRICAL APPEAL.

A PUBLIC DUTY

Appeals to the generosity of the public of New Zealand are fairly numerous, and not all of them can be held above criticism. The appeal now being made, by the New Zealand Obstetrical Society, however, should receive general support. The sum of £25,000 is required as an endowment for staffing the proposed Midwifery Hospital .of the Otago. Medi-^ cal School. The provision of the necessary buildings is covered by a grant of £50,000 made b yttie Government, but that fiioes not make provision for the medical staff, and it goes without saying that a medical man possessing the highest qualifications should be placed in charge of such a hospital. The salary offered, therefore, must be large enough to attract such a man. Commenting upon the report of Dr. T. H. A. Valentine, the New Zealand Director-General of Health for the-year ended March 31, 1929, concerning infant mortality, the "Medical Officer," a London journal, stated: "For New Zealand was the first to develop public health on modern lines, and quickly showed what could be done. Since the war, most of the Anglo-Saxon communities," and many of other races besides, have caught up New Zealand, and present records quite equal to hers, though in the particular of infant mortality she still shows the way." New Zealanders, themselves, take pride in the low rate of infant mortality, and should take- equal interest in the problem of rediucing maternal, mortality. The deaths are not alarmingly high, but that is no reason why every effort .should not be made to reduce, the percentage to a minimum. The door to lower maternal mortality will be opened by the specialised teaching of obstetrics. It is not denied that the general training of the New Zealand graduate in medicine compares favourably with that available overseas, but the present lack of adequate^ facilities for midwifery instruction leaves much to be desired The midwifery work in general practice of New Zealandtrained - doctors, despite their limited opportunities for studying this subject, has been indeed praiseworthy. It is the duty of the public, however, to see that medical students are given opportunities for securing the best of training. This object can be achieved by giving liberal suppQrt to the appeal of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society. The lowest infantile deathTate in the world stands to the credit of the Dominion; the lowest maternal mortality rate should now be the general film.