The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1919-12-10
PEACE PROGRAM OF
RED CROSS SOCIETY
Features Health Centers Home
Service Work Community
Nurses, etc.

Aside from the care and attention
given the disabled soldier OF sailor
Through Red Cross Home Service the
leading feature of the peace-time
program relates TO public health
nome hygiene-the community nurse
home care of the sick, etc.
But, first what about the service
given the disabled soldier2
The government provided two a.
gencies to care for hinl-the Bureau
OF War Risk Insurance and the Board
Of Vocational Education after ply
sicaI rehabilitation Of the disabled
man.
The amounts allowed under the
Var Risk Insurance act have been
very inadequate to meet the needs
of the disabled man and his family,
and the pressure has been strong to
put men into vocational training be-
cause they needed financial assist
ance, otter when they were physical
iy unable to begin training or when
ehey were so slightly disabled that
they did not need re-education, says
che Gulf Division Bulletin. The
greater monthly allowance by the
Federal Board for men in training
mas been largely responsible for this
In both Of these cases, the only agen-
cy to fall back upon has been the
Home Service Section Of the Red
Cross, to supplement the government
grants from the Bureau Of War RISK
insurance and to care for the needs
IF the man and his family until he
was able to undertake training, or
nad recovered his health or had se-
cured position.
Some people ask why should not
the government do the work which
the Red Cross is called upon to do
The answer is that no agency OF the
government In peace time or in war,
can perform quickly, efficiently and
to the point of assistance Of the ma
lure demanded for the disabled SER
rice man. The government can never
Jay in advance for service to be-
rendered. The goods must be deliy-
sred, the service must be performed,
The salary must be earned, before
Government money can be expended.
1'or immediate help the Red Gross is
che Buddy" to come to the rescue
Of the disabled soldier. The Gov
srnment cannot be moved by SYM
Dathy or any sort of personal interest
out must abide by rules and regu-
iations, system and method in the
Sery nature of the case.
Now, health program is to be the
main feature of the peace time pro-
gram. The Bulletin says RED Cross
Chapters will establish health CEN
sers in their communities only after
/ thorough survey to determine the
need and suitability of the enterprise
20 it. and upon approval by the Red
Cross Division Manager. Special
buildings will be erected to house
nealth centers in some cases, but
where suitable quarters can be Qts
Gained In structures already bG
hey will be utilized. This without
attention Of encroaching upon the
nealth authorities.
Surgeon General Rupert Blue Inc
dorses the program as ''of the most
sitaI Importance" and as "promot-
ing human health and welfare"
Now, what does public health
work mean? It means having a res
dent nurse to care for the sick in
their own homes; 1t means physical
inspection of school children and
practical talks in school and at home
IN personal and domestic hygiene: 1t
means the establishment of classes
Tor instruction in Home Hygiene and
Care of the Sick; it means the inn
proving of bad housing conditions;
it means healthier and happier ba-
0ies;. 1t means the prevention OF the
spread of tuberculosis, typhoid fever
and other contagious diseases; and
it means that epidemics will become
less possible in the future.
Now, in view Of the foregoing aims
and objects of Red Cross Home Ser
vice, it would seem that there should
Oe o very vital interest in the organ
ization in Brookhayen. There were
less than dozen at the meeting last
Friday intended for the annual cleo
Jon Of officers. It was deferred un-
Ill the second Friday in January
when it is hoped that men and wo-
men with broad outlook and COM
munity interest will attend and lend
their aid to the further plans for
prosecution of the work OF the local
Red Cross to the end that the in
terests of this vicinity be subserved
at the same time as concrete whole
and with due regard to the local
problems inherent in every commun-
ity and yet differing one from the
other on account of conditions and
environment peculiar to each.
The problems before the Red Cross
are too great and far-reaching to be
solved by mere handful Of people
Attend the meeting the second FRI
day in January,