Page 24 - Kimihia Volume 2
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health, Dr J F Dawson, today. in that they were sent home with the children first.
But there were probably many more as The parents were then invited to a PTA meeting
some times the disease was not reported where they had the chance to interview teachers
or medical assistance sought, he said. and discuss the children’s progress. This proved
A very favourable report was given by very successful with 70 parents attending.
the health inspector who visited the We are still having a steady stream of new
school yesterday, said Dr Dawson. Hand- cases of hepatitis. The Health Department
washing sanitation facilities were quite has consoled us by predicting about 75% of
satisfactory. The school had been built the school eventually going down with the
recently. illness!
“Pockets of hepatitis are springing up A three-day inspection visit from Messrs
all the time, and we can only stress again Palmer, L Wilson and Holmes. The visit was
the importance of proper hand-washing to issue one yellow and two green reports on
and personal hygiene.”
He said the cause of the disease at Kimihia staff members. It involved a most thorough
was not known. analysis of the school programme and its
The Kimihia School’s headmaster, Mr J implementation.
Lloyd, consulted the South Auckland
Education Board yesterday, as he feared August
the school might have to be closed to Forms 1 and 2 made an educational visit to
safeguard other pupils so far not affected. Wellington per NZ Railways. The fare was
But he had no further comment to make $9.50 a head and the children received a full day
on the situation today. of VIP treatment.
Diseases spread September
Mrs Allen agreed to assist in the Std 3/4 area
in schools as the Board could not even supply a relieving
Huntly - Conditions existing in teacher.
schools enabled diseases to spread
rapidly and easily due to close October
confinement of pupils, the Huntly The annual flower show was held in spite
Borough Council was told last night. of unfavourable weather. Each room arranged its
In his report, the health inspector, Mr own display.
C M Turner, said no facilities for School inspection visit from L Palmer.
washing pupils’ hands with hot water was
another factor. November
His report also said that 23 pupils J
from Kimihia School were still affected Lloyd attended a two-day course on mathematics.
A Sunday working bee prepared a new fence and
by hepatitis and were absent from classes. a concrete extension around the baths.
Mr Turner said he had visited the Mr Ian Tapp and Tom Johnston completed the
school and interviewed the headmaster, concrete around the baths two days later. The fence
Mr J Lloyd. The hepatitis outbreak there was completed and a ‘Christmas neck-trim’ was
was only mild and not of epidemic
given to the school grounds.
proportions.
He said that during the past
month infective hepatitis had been December
The school break-up was held in the Huntly
rife in the borough. Four cases had Primary School assembly hall with a very large
actually been reported.
attendance of parents.
“But it would appear that doctors in The programme for the break-up was . . .
Huntly are not always notifying
the Health Department of . Children’s Items
hepatitis, and consequently the extent of Speeches Mr Gerrand
Mr Forrest
the outbreak cannot be ascertained.”
Headmaster
Traffic Awards
June Murray White, Kevin Johnston,
The hepatitis crisis is still raging in the district Room 2 -
and the matter has been highlighted in the Leanne Holland, Julie Dobson,
newspapers and over the radio. The Health Karen Hartis, Glenn Nicholson.
Department paid us a visit and spoke very Room 3 - Jackie Forrest, Anne Pere,
highly of the standard of cleanliness and Jan Tapp, Anne Hamilton,
general attention being paid to hygiene in the Susan Stanich, Karl Plas,
school. They are still not particularly interested Julie Stirling, Murray Chandler,
in taking any positive action. In the meantime Gillian Ainsworth, Karen Fletcher,
Andrea Ralph, Fiona Giles.
there is a steady stream of new cases. Room 4 (Std 2) - Anne Challinor, Paul Forrest,
Russell White, Patricia Jones,
July
This year we varied the system of issuing reports Peter Fletcher, Nan Turner.
