Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand.

  • New Zealand. Department of Health.
Date:
[1965]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/112 (page 17)
    The time spent on health education has increased, and medical officers in almost all areas are helping in schools in education for family life. Their reports show that different areas are tackling this in different ways, but all methods used demonstrate clearly the magnitude of the task. For many years the Department has been involved in this work, but limits have been imposed by the shortage of time and staff and also to a certain extent by the demand. For the past four years the Health and Education Departments have been discussing a health education curriculum for schools which will include family life education. This has become more urgent recently because of the increase in publicity given to adolescents’ behaviour, especially their sexual behaviour. Unfortunately the whole situation has become confused by well meaning but somewhat emotional efforts in this particular field. It is important to recognise that education for family life starts in early childhood and is the prerogative of parents. If they cannot or do not wish to accept the responsibility, it then devolves on the school and its resources. The medical officers and public health nurses are a skilled and accepted part of these resources. Audiometry Eight new audiometrists have been appointed this year, and a much better coverage has been given in the schools. It is hoped that in 1965 vision and hearing testing will be undertaken jointly, thus releasing medical and nursing staff for more urgent and more highly skilled work. In three areas courses for vision testing have already been held, but future training of new staff will take place along with the training for hearing testing at the Audiology Unit in Auckland. Maori Children In general these still require much supervision. The Board of Health report on the trial scheme introduced in the Waikato for the treatment of otitis media is being published, and a scheme is planned whereby all Maori children affected will be treated. Iron Deficiency Anaemia At the end of the year the treatment of all Maori babies for iron deficiency anaemia was introduced. (d) Occupational Health The Occupational Health Unit was opened on 20 October 1964, and the Department is now able to provide a comprehensive laboratory service in the specialised field of occupational hygiene. Facilities exist for the estimation of chemical hazards through air sampling and biological monitoring, and of noise hazards through noise analysis. The closest cooperation has been maintained with the Department of Labour throughout the establishment of this new service, and procedures have been devised which enable officers of that Department to be able to call on the service with a minimum of delay. A further major step forward was taken in the latter part of the year when, with the approval and encouragement of the State Services Com¬ mission, the New Zealand Railways, and the Post Office, a hearing conservation programme was introduced in all Government workshops.