The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-30
CHILD WELFARE
HAS HIGH PLACE
in IDAHO PLANS
Leader in Campaign to
Save Lives of $50 Lit
tie Ones as States
Quota of 1OO,O 900
Tells of Work to be
Done.

Mrs. Lizzie Dickie, head of the
child welfare campaign in Idaho, is
greatly encouraged with the spirit
displayed in many of the counties.
1t is proposed to save the lives OF
$50 babies in Idaho this year as the
gift of this commonwealth to man.
kind. This is Idaho's quota Of the
100000 to be saved in the nation.
Speaking of the work to be done and
the plans of those in charge Mrs.
Dickie says:
The records secured in the weigh
ing and measuring test serve two dis
tinct purposes:
They furnish a guide for the bet
ter care of children. They show
that is needed with individual chill
dren.
They furnish standard series Of
weights and measures for the child
rem of the United States at different
ages.
Thousands of under-nourished
children are being found in this ma
tional test which now includes more
than 100000 children The prob
lem which confronts the committees
which are conducting the test as
part of their war service is what to
do with the under-nourished child
rem so they can grow up to be strong,
healthy citizens.
Mothers Must Have Help
Mothers must do the saving"
has, been one of the Children's Year
slogans, but they can not do it alone.
They must have the help of COM
munity organized to see that every
mother has the care she needs be-
fore her child is born and at con-
finement, so that the baby may have
a fair start in life. They need child
consultation centers, prepared to give
the mothers the most expert advice
as to the care of the baby and especi-
ally as to methods of feeding. Feed
ing used to be considered as natural
as breathing, but many of the ills
of adult life now are traced to poorly
chosen food in childhood.
Public Health Nurses
The childrens bureau of the United
States department of labor believes
that there Is one sort of worker, who
above any other, is qualified to save
the lives Of babies, and that is the
public health nurse. The bureau
urges that each community which
has no such worker make an effort
to secure one as it's part in the cam
paign to save children. There is
need Of a public health nurse in Ada
and other counties and though many
Of the younger nurses are gone for
war services yet we believe there are
women living here who are
still competent experienced nurses,
with the added practical knowledge |
secured in their own home life, who
could be secured to do the work. |
Such a person should be able to go |
over the country twice a year, hold |
clinics and instruct parents who
iced it most. Most parents want to |
10 the thing that will enable them to |
lelp their children to be better and
stronger. "The health of the child
s the power of the nation and each
should see that perman-
mt work be organized for the pro-
ection of the children, and Idaho's
Luota of $50 children's lives be saved
his year.
Hot Summer is Fatal
It is during the hot summer
months that so many babies die of
digestive diseases. In January, 1915
here were 1911 deaths while in
august there were 9192 deaths.
England and France are protecting
heir babies and we must do so too.
n the same year, 1915, nine soldiers
I the British empire were killed on
attlefields every hour, and every
our twelve babies died, while in
.merica every hour twenty-eight
abies die. Nothing is Of more i'm
ortance to a country than that the
to come be one of strong
irile men and women.
Good Work Quietly Done
A campaign for the health con-
ervation of children is not practic-
larly spectacular. Educational
ampaigns do not lend themselves
, glitter and applause, but there is
wonderful possibility of improving
le quality of our citizenship If we
egin with the children.
In order to assist as much as pos
BILE in circulating literature and all
Inds of helpful information to the
orkers for their use in the campaign