ORGANISATION FOR HEALTH

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 6

ORGANISATION FOR HEALTH

Another forward move in New Zealand’s health organisation is suggested by Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, in a report to the Minister of Health following a visit of exploration to the United States, Britain and Scandinavia. Statistics prove that ih many aspects of public health New Zealand is far advanced by comparison with other countries, but that does not apply to all aspects of the problem and, moreover, some other countries have recently made notable advances and are ranging themselves alongside the Dominion even in such matters as infant and mother care. New Zealand must continue to strive if it is to remain in the van. Most notably in New Zealand there are certain basic defects in health that, unless corrected, may find expression later in less favourable statistics over a wider field. For instance, it is admitted that the teeth of the people are deplorably defective, and sound teeth are an essential to general good health. For that reason it is pleasing that Dr. Watt should be recommending particular organisation for improvement in dietary instruction. In other directions also he recommends action on the lines observed in the most advanced health systems in the countries visited. The time is perhaps not the most propitious for heavy expenditure, but it must be remembered that physical health is the greatest asset a nation can possess and therefore, war or no war, everything that is possible must be done to improve the standard of health. It will be noted that most of Dr. Watt’s recommendations refer to the preventive rather than the curative aspects of health. For that reason they are all the more welcome. His observations with regard to the Plunket Society are sure to attract notice, and probably some criticism. Dr. Watt freely admits that the society has done excellent work in improving the standard of infant health, but he adds that “it has contributed toward the present gap in New Zealand health services under which the pre-school child is comparatively neglected.” Perhaps Dr. Watt has not expressed himself as he would have wished. It is rather true that the Plunket Society has admirably filled at least a large portion of the gap between the birth of the child and that stage of its existence at which it gains the interest of the Health Department. Closer co-operation between the society and the department may be desirable so long as it does not make a State machine of the present voluntary organisation, but the society can scarcely be accused of “creating” any “gap” in the health-life of the child. If there is fault to be found on the grounds of neglect, it lies rather with the Health Department.