PUBLIC HEALTH

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 4

PUBLIC HEALTH

IMPROVED DIRECTION OFFICIAL’S RECOMMENDATIONS WIDER PLUNKET ACTIVITY (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Reforms in the present system of public health administration in New Zealand are suggested by the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, in a report to the Minister, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. The recommendations have been made in the light of the experience gained by Dr. Watt during his recent vigit to North America, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Dr. Watt says the weakness of the New Zealand system lies In the evils associated with standardisation; that is, the tendency to view with disfavour experimental methods which depart from tried, proved and accepted procedures, with a consequent sapping of initiative and enterprise. After drawing attention to a growing interest being displayed in the study of industrial hygiene, Dr. Watt suggests that an industrial hygienist be appointed to the Division of Public Hygiene. He also states that the present system under which there are two separate divisions of maternal welfare and school hygiene does not make for the most efficient working. These divisions should be amalgamated as soon as opportunity offers. Limited Child Service Dr. Watt pays tribute to the work of the Plunket Society over the past years, and says that an effort should be made to induce the Society to widen its duties, to work in more closely with the department, and to get away from the weakness of the system under which a voluntary body without adequate contact with the Health Department, and without adequate superivision of its work by the medical profession, is providing a service for a very limited age. The system has undoubtedly enabled a high standard of infant health, but has contributed toward the present gap in New Zealand health services under which the pre-school child is comparatively neglected. After stressing the need for health education of the people of the Dominion, Dr. Watt states that the appointment of a trained dietitian and health educationist would be invaluable in augmenting the efforts of the Division of Dental Hygiene, and he also suggests the establishment of an Institute of Public Health, with the following three main functions: (1) Medical research; (2) training of health personnel; (3) routine work connected with industrial hygiene, epidemiology, preparation of calf lymph, etc. Wellington would, be the obvious headquarters for such an institute. May Blaze Path “New Zealand has already made a creditable showing in the field of public health,” states Dr. Watt, “and has favourable statistics for death rate, infant mortality, and rate of incidence of tuberculosis. Other countries, however, are close on our heels, and if we are to hold our place we must be prepared to profit by experience gleaned abroad. With improved organisation, with smaller health districts and with better trained personnel, we should be able to hold our lead and even to blaze a path which other countries would not disdain to follow.’’