Connecticut western news., 1919-11-13
HEALTH CENTERS
 Te BE OPENED
 BY RED GROSS
Projected service to com munities to be financed by Third Roll Call

Very soon after the signing of the armistice. the American Red Cross made it clear that the central feature of its peace time program would con- sist of activities in the field of puh- lie health. Perhaps the most import ant consideration of this peace pro gram is the plan for the mobilization of Red Cross interest and influence in the establishment of public health centers in every community through out the country where conditions make this desirable and possible. The working plan will be discussed at the annual meeting of Red Cross Chapters to he held at Chapter head quarters in the near future.
 Tn planning thus to enter the field Of public health, the Red Cross has no idea, of attempting to encroach upon the fields of the already existing health authorities" said Major Gen eral John F. O'Ryan, chairman Of the Third Red Cross Roll Call for the At lantic Division. ''It has no thought of superseding any of the accredited volunteer health agencies Rut the Red Cross sees clearly great op- portunity to advance the public wei faro hv enlisting alongside of these agencies. By n0biiZing the reserve forces, it's universal prestige. iis dem ocratic and non-sectarian ideals in. 2 new and mightier national effort for public health. the Red Cross plans a great campaign against unnecessary sickness, poverty and death now caused by preventable diseases. And tllis campaign is to be made possible hy the Third Red Cross Roll Call, Nov. 2-11.
 A Militant Campaign.
 That a militant general campaign to promote physical welfare in this country is needed. General O'Ryan said. ''is made clear by the experience of the draft examinations. in which approximately onc-third of all candi- dates were rejected for active ser vice on account of physical disability The first step, he said. has been the extension of the public health nurs- ing program. The establishment of public health centers is another step.
 The Red Cross health center" General O'Ryan continued. will be the physical headquarters for the public health work of a commun- ity. As such, it will be the practical and concrete expression of the in- terest of the community in the health of its people. It will constitute the business-like way of associating health activities, both public and pri- vate, under one roof, in daily touch and in mutual understanding. Thus. 1t represents the latest step in the evolution of community health work. and answers the demand for efficient conservation of effort in bringing to- gether independent health campaigns against preventahle diseases
 Tn the larger communities. the 2 health center will be the focus which brings together all community agen- cies both public and private. which deal with the health of the people. Tn the smaller community. the health center will often take the form of d community house. or social center
 "The two fundamental elements in the modern public health campaign are the war on tuberculosis and the conservation of child life In the lat ter category may he inrluded the whole range of prenatal supervision. the advice anG instruction of mothers in the care and feeding of ba hies. the exercise Of influence for the portion of clean, paseurized milk. the supervision homes and surroundings of boarded out children. the hygiene of children before and during their school years. and all the other usual activities as. soc'a sd wftA t,ie conservation oi child life.