Do your children suffer more than others

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 5, 1 September 1977, Page 1

Do your children suffer more than others

Children are picking up diseases from school because health services in places like Ponsonby and Otara are inadequate. This is the view of Dr lan Scott of Auckland’s medical school. He says most of the children in Auckland Hospital’s infectious disease block should not be there. “Schools in Ponsonby and Otara often have only cold water and no soap for children, while schools in Remuera are much better equipped,” says Dr Scott. He adds that a child can pick up a disease at school and then bring it home where his smaller brothers and sisters catch it.

He emphasises that it is bad health services which are at fault, not uncaring parents. “In areas like Ponsonby, Polynesians find it very hard to get a doctor and if they do, the receptionist often asks if it is urgent. The parent tends to

take this as a challenge and decides to wait another day. or so, by which time the child becomes very ill,” says Dr Scott. He adds that the problem could be partly solved by Pacific Island health workers but they are often denied the

chance to work in New Zealand as anything other than nurse aides. Mana would like to hear your comments on these statements by Dr Scott, if you agree or disagree, please write to tell us your views on this important matter