HEALTH CAMPS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 303, 17 August 1932, Page 6

HEALTH CAMPS

DOCTOR SAYS SUNLIGHT INYALUABLE FOR CHILDREN. SCHOOL MEDICAL OFEICER. "The saying that children in the old days were very much healthier than they are to-day is quite wrong." said Dr. Ada Paterson in an address on the subject of health camps given at the last meeting of the Wellington School Committees and Education Fedsration. Dr. Paterson went on to say that there was never a time when there were more healthy, happy youngsters in the world than there were to-day. New Zealand was particularly fortunate in having all the natural forces that were necessary ~Tor health, and it was only a matter of organisation and these forces could be taken full advantage of. As it was, the child in New Zealand compared favourably with those of any other part of the world, and the country enjoyed the distinction of having the lowest infant mortality in the world. If the statistics were studied it would. be found that the mortality of children of school age was also very low. New Zealand also held two other notable records — the greatest expectancy of life, and the lowest tuberculosis death rate. The utilisation of such' simp'le forces as sunlight had been found to have a great deal to do with the general health of the community, and if children could be given the benefit of the sun and fresh air at a camp such as the one at Otaki it would be a tremendous advantage to them in their fight for life. In N'ew Zealand, continued Dr. Paterson, the first health camp was held about twelve years ago at Turakina, in the Wanganui district. Since that time many camps had been held in various parts of the Dominion. Voluntary organisations such as the Auckland Community Sunshine Association and the Waikato Health Camp had been most active; the Christchurch Sunshine League was young, but vigorous, and the Bryant Home at Raglan was a striking example of individual generosity. From the Dominion's standpoint the value of such health camps was undoubted. It was not more expensive to keep a child one week in camp than one day in hospital, and the camp assured a much stronger and harvpier child.

Dr. Paterson then gave a very interesting outline of the mathods of sunshine treatment in Europe and North America. She illustrated her address with a ssries of lantern slides. Members of the federation later expressed the appreciation of the fine work that was being carried out at the Otaki camp, and said that they shouid give it their fullest suppcit..