Plunket calls for funds

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 556, 4 October 1994, Page 14

Plunket calls for funds

Plunket has been providing a unique child and family health service to New Zealand families for more than 87 years, and next week is the society' s annual fund-raising appeal week. The organisation, founded by Dr Frederic Truby King in 1907, today offers a huge range of health and support services to families and whanau with children under five. Plunket staff see more than 90 per cent of all new babies regularly during the early months of life. Most New Zealand families receive assistance from Plunket at some time and all Plunket services are free. Parents with new babies receive home visits from a Plunket nurse and later can take their children to a Plunket clinic or Plunket child health centre in their own area for health checks. Plunket also offers parenting education courses and support services in local communities, as well as health and safety promotion. A Plunket nurse is an experienced registered nurse who has completed specialised training in child and family health. Plunket nurses carry out health checks and give personal help and information to families on all aspects of children' s health and development. Plunket' s nursing team also includes Karitane and Plunket Community Health Workers. They provide sup-

port for the Plunket nurse and for families in their own community and give practical assistance to families who may need extra help. Many other services, like new mothers' groups, health care courses and safety programmes, involve Plunket nursing staff working in partnership with volunteer members of local committees. Plunket is also at the forefront of community education on child safety and has information, education programmes and resources that can help parents and care-givers keep children safe. The organisation has also been a long-time advocate of the need for children to be restrained in car-seats. Plunket car-seat rental schemes - there are more than 300 nationwide - provide car-seats for all ages at a low rental cost and can help parents choose the seat that' s safest for their child. A highly successful new service introduced by Plunket this year has been Plunket Line, the toll-free support and advice line staffed by Plunket nurses and now operating 24-hours-a-day on 0800-10-10-67. If you would like to become a Plunket committee member or helper to enable the continued services of Plunket in the Waimarino please phone Cathy Horne, president of Waimarino Plunket.