Media Release
24 August 2005

Boost to health checks welcomed

“Every Child Counts welcomes the boost to Well Child checks for pre-school children, announced by the Prime Minister and Health Minister yesterday,” says Beth Wood, Every Child Counts spokesperson.

“Eminent paediatrician, Dr Grahan Vimpani, on a visit to New Zealand some years ago, commented that the sort of early childhood health services provided by Plunket and others were world class and could not be established from scratch in this day and age.”

“These services are a national treasure and it’s gratifying to see them valued and hear that they are to be built on by giving every child an entitlement to eight health visits in the first five years.”

“This measure, along with the proposals to provide free hearing tests for all newborns and a free School Ready check for children, is consistent with one of the Every Child Counts primary policy goals.”

“Every Child Counts is a coalition of organisations including Barnardos, Plunket, Save the Children, Unicef NZ and AUT’s Institute of Public Policy, which aims to put children at the forefront of all Government policy. It is supported by more than 325 organisations and thousands of individuals.

ENDS

Note:
Every Child Counts launched a challenge card for political parties yesterday at a public forum in Wellington. The coalition challenges all candidates to pledge to:
Place children first in government planning
Ensure every child gets a good start
Reduce child abuse and family violence
End child poverty
Act on these pledges

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