Child Welfare In

Rarotonga.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rarotonga, Nov. 1.

THERE appeared in your August issue a paragraph dealing with the work of the Rarotonga Child Wel fare.

This is an important matter, and the details may be of interest to other islands. This organisation, which came into existence a year ago, and which has proved of inestimable benefit to the island, owes its begin ning to Dr. Ellison, the Government medical officer, and his wife.

They organised Child Welfare centres in every village, and in the township of Avarua each district has its centre. Lectures on all branches of Child Welfare have been given by both the doctor and his wife, and the Matron of the Hospital.

Every expectant mother is given ad vise and attention by the members of the centre of her district, and after wards they are in attendance and

offer every assistance to the mother and child. Once a week, until the child is three years old, they visit the child, when it is given atten tion for any minor complaint. It is bathed and weighed and a record kept: and the mother is advised as to what food is suitable for the child, and when.

The worker in charge of each centre is entrusted with simple remedies for the ordinary complaints of infants.

The Government Hospital provides free all medicines required by the centres.

All the work is voluntary and the workers’ white uniforms have been sup plied out of money raised by enter tainments. Each centre now aims at building its own reception hut, and the settlement of Nikao has already done so. These huts will be used for giving attention to infants whose mothers are able to come, and also used for the training of new workers.