BABY WEEK APPEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1917, Page 4

BABY WEEK APPEAL.

"Save the Babies Week" is a campaign that has been organised by thePlunkev Society, which is doing a great national and humanititrian work in reducing infant mortality and educating mothers in the care of their young children. .Few people realise as they aught, the' importance of this society, and of the institution of a special campaign to bring home to mothers and probable mothers the essentials of proper treatment to secure the health and strength of their children. It is not only to mothers, but also to fathers, that the efforts of the society are directed, in order to gain the desired end, for the father must ehare with the mother the responsibility for the health of his baby. The application of the common-sense principles of hygiene in the rearing of infants, and especially the giving of digestive and nourishing food in regulated quantities, are by some regarded as new-fangled fads. The reply to this is the incontro. vertible fact that nearly one-third of all infant deaths occur as the result of digestive disturbance, brought on chiefly by faulty and injudicious feeding. The terrible wastage of the war has made the care of infant life a matter of vital importance to the race; hence the need for the stirring campaign that is being instituted, not only throughout the Dominion, but in the Homeland. The two main objects are to educate the mothers and fathers, and to provide in every district the services of one or more PUink«t nurses to carry on the work of the society, and help mothers in their many difficulties. There are but few mothers who have any proper knowledge of the treatment of infants, for they have had mostly to rely on friendly advice, which i» all too frequently unsound. An organised system of education by efficient inBtructors is greatly to be welcomed, and the community should do its utmost to further this work. It is gratifying to know that practical steps are being taken lin New (Plymouth to further the aims of the Plunket Society, and obtain the services of a nutse. A publio meeting is to be held this evening at the Whitelej Hall, when Dr. Walker and the Rev. W. A; Sinclair will speak on the subject of the Dominion "Baby Week" appeal. The matter is a national one, and has become particularly urgent, so that it is to bo hoped there will be exhibited a keen interest in the campaign. Every effort is i being made to impress on the people the [immense importance of the nurture of infants, so that these may be sound, healthy citizens in the future. The healthier the children, the happier the home, I and we look to New Plymouth citizens to | take up this matter with earnestness and zeal.