Child Welfare.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1922, Page 4

Child Welfare.

LOWERING THE DEATH RATE. WELLINGTON, Sept 15. In the report of tile Health Department, Dr T/mby King has a lengthy report on the subject of child welfare. He states what has been dona in instructing midwives, and adds: “One can scarcely over-state the safeguard and boon it would lie to mother and child if all the midwives, numbering between 1500 and 2000, registered and unregistered, to whom mothers, expectant and actual turn tor guidance and help during the most momentous and critical phases of life, could bo depended on to give uniform authoritative advice and assistance. A\ rong advice is so often tendered, and the wrong thing so often done, that no pains should lie spared to heighten tho sense of responsibility and raise the standard of knowledge and proficiency among all those licensed or authorised in any way bv the Stato to undertake the special care of mother and child before and after ehikl-birth.”

Dr King status that about 39.000 babies are born annually in New Zealand, rtnd about 5 per cent, (or 1090) die in the first year. Of those who die, nearly 1000 succumb in the first mouth, the other eleven months contributing only about 500 deaths. The failing babies who are under the ware of the medical profession, and those looked after by flit Rlunket Society’s nurses in the Karitane hospitals, and throughout the community, show dearly that lack of adequate knowledge and training on the pa'rt of the mothers and on tho part of many of those on whom they rely for help and guidance throughout pregnancy, and at and after childbirth are the main causes of failure. In the first few weeks where babies do badly, there is almost always a history of serious but easily avoidable mistakes, and these are just as liable to occur among the educated and well-to-do as among the so-callad poor and ignorant. The foundation of hope lias everywhere in reliable systematic education training and help. There is tarry ground for confidence that with the further growth of knowledge on the part ot mothers, nurses, and mid-wives, the dcachs of babies alter the first month of nge will he brought down in New Zealand another third in the near future, and that a much greater reduction will he effected in the iiiorJ'iiately high death rate in the firstmonth.

During the course of the next five years Dr Truliy King adds the infant mortality for the whole Don.'inion should show a further reduction from the present total of about 1500 deaths per annum to only 1009, in other words, a fall from 5 per cent, to oi fv 3 per cent, of the birth-rate.