A NURSE'S CARAVAN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10297, 4 June 1919, Page 5

A NURSE'S CARAVAN

The current number of "Kai Tiaki" (the New Zealand nurses' journal) contarns' ah interesting article, descriptive "of * the " mariner" in'Vhi'ch' the district nurse'to natives of the Bay of Islands , J-inortiifern-'end—MiSs' FerguSSon negotiates her very difficult district. She travels in a health caravan, -which does credit to her own initiative, although ago the idea of such.,?, me- . thod";ol„cQnducting health work among Lt'lio natives had been discussed in the department. The caravan was procur- | ed from the Bay of Islands Hospital, whero it had been used as an ambulance ; it was in such little demand for that purpose, that at her own suggestion, the Hospital Board gave it. to |?* urse Fergusson for her work. Sha has adapted it, and fitted it up entirely herself. It contains two folding 'stretchers for the nurse and her assistant,, and arrangements to carry all requirements for quite a long tour—medicines and nursing requisites, as well as food and personal supplies. From one i-Maori-settlemcnt to another, all over ! -the- largo district, the two nurses !»trarel,t working as thoy go", stayiifg as i long as necessary to cope with any bad peases.' ■«- Of■* course, if the weather is ii bad, the -living facilities of the cararvnn are somewhat curtailed, meals not being possible in the open. [ Miss Forgusson states that they invariably -receive unbounded kindness from people as they travel. Farmers allow them to camp in their fields, etc., wililo the school teachers' kindness and .helpfulness can a ways bo relied on. It ig one of the nurse's duties to visit all native schools.