Mother, neonatal death persists

An important statement in regard to the maternal mortality rate in New Zealand as compared with that in other countries and what the Health Department is doing was made by Sir Maui Pomare (Minister of Health): “More women die as a result of childbirth in this country than in many other countries which have not the advantages that we possess. The New Zealand maternal mortality rate is 5.1 per 1000; Denmark is the lowest with 2 per 1000, and Belgium and Chili are the highest with 7.2 and 7.5, Australia's rate being 4.7. Again, while New Zealand is justly proud of the record that it possesses the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, close inspection of the figures shows that there is still much to be done, and that New Zealand is even further behind other countries in certain spheres of infant welfare work. The reduction in the infant mortality rate in New Zealand has been wholly due to the

saving of infant life after the age of one month, an accomplishment due in no small measure to the excellent work inaugurated and directed by Dr Truby King. The death rate of infants under one month in this country, however, is still (for the year 1923) 20 per 1000 live births and has shown practically no reduction since the Plunket Society commenced its work in 1907 when the rate was 30 per 1000. The further saving of mothers and of infants under one month, however, would appear to rest with the public and the medical and nursing professions. The department will continue to endeavour to grapple with these problems, but to do so will require the wholehearted cooperation of the public and these professions. Dr Truby King and the Plunket Society will cooperate in this work.”