Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1943. HEALTH AND WELFARE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1943. HEALTH AND WELFARE.

A[OST people would admit out of hand that health is the allimportant foundation of human welfare. Ji. happens only too often, however, that the practical applications of this obvious truth are neglected. Even in this favoured country, which lends itself so well to healthy living, a great many people, .for want of thought or in ignorance, overlook the laws of health and pay the penalty. These facts justify and make very necessary and valuable the extended publicity campaign the Department of Health has instituted with a view to making known as widely and clearly as possible lhe simple but inexorable rides of healthy living. In display matter and in brief articles, lhe Health Department is teaching in a simple and telling fashion lessons relating to balanced diet and other fundamental conditions of health. In the extent to which common sense prevails it will be appreciated that this course of instruction, given by competent experts, is of vital concern to every man, woman and child in the Dominion. To the individual good health brings a condition, of efficiency, happiness and comfort that otherwise would be unattainable. In the community at large, too, every problem of social and economic progress'is lightened by rising and improving standards of health. It would not be excusable to repeat these truisms but for the familiar fact that in this country, as in so many others, there is an immense amount of needless and avoidable ill-health, culminating in more serious sickness and disease. Nothing is better established than that, by taking thought, individually and collectively, we can improve immensely upon this unsatisfactory slate of affairs, with universal benefit and advantage. Much depends, where the raising of health standards is concerned, upon individual initiative and a rational appreciation of simple fyets. Some of the causes of ill-health are insidious, however, and good scope thus Appears for a campaign like that instituted by the Health Department. This campaign has its place in a great movement from which much is Io be hoped in our own country and others—a movement under which the resources of medical science and skill more and more will be directed, not merely to the treatment of sickness and disease—though this, of course, must not in any way be neglected—but to positive action directed to the preservation and improvement of health. Meantime it should be recognised that it is open to the average citizen, young or old, to do a great deal to ensure the maintenance of his or her own health and that due attention to the practical and dependable advice offered by the Health Department will assist materially to that desirable end.