Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-06-18
PUBLIC w ELF e DEPT
BY Miss Margaret Thomas
Health Nurse

Under the caption Invest in Health,
Alameda county, California, described
its recently established health center.
The present arrangements are
acknowledged to be but temporary, but
it has an option on Il site that is accessi-
BILE to all parts of the country, plans
for the building and Il campaign for
funds. Towards its maintenance the
board Of supervisors Of Alameda cOun-
ty has appropriated $4,000 for the
clinics Of the year.
In the organization large number
OF factories are interested and its
board of governors is composed OF rep
resentatives from health departments,
10 hospitals and dispensaries, 10 relief
organizations, > educational inStitu-
tons. 4 public school systems, 3 cham
bcrS Of commerce, 6 public welfare or
CARNATIONS, 2 probation boards, la
Dor organizations, l bureau OF Occupa-
tons and the county associations,
medical, dental, nurses, and psyche
pathic; truly body representative OF
many phases of the county public work.
Two excellent groups of statements
have been set forth by the local COM
mittee. which define the health center
and tell the reasons why it should be
supported by the community. They are
here presented for the benefit of other
communities that may have similar or
CARNATIONS in prospect.
The definition of a health center is
this:
1t is an institution which cO-Ordi-
mates the public health work of the
community in centrally-l0cated
building. available to every man, woman
and child.
1t conducts clinics-surgical, medi-
cal and dental-with the aim of making
hospital care unnecessary.
1t provides health instruction i'll per-
sonal hygiene to both school children
and adults by means OF popular lee
fIres. lantern slides and distribution
Of literature.
1t offers instruction III maternity and
child-welfare. thus reducing the infant
mortality.
1t serves as a clearing house for all
hubble health information, thus affect
ing a closer cooperation among hos
pitfalls.
1t divides the community into health
districts. each with definite health
organization which can instantly be
modified in case of Il threatened cpl
demic.
1t prevents overlapping, duplication
and waste because it cO-Ordinates all
health and relief organizations
The ten reasons why every cOmmun-
ity should establish and support a
health center are:
/. 1t promotes community health.
Your own safety depends upon health
full surroundings.
.. 1t reduces loss Of income caused
by sickness. Earning power rests up
on health.
2. 1t decreases infant mortality.
T. 1t fosters health education. one
school child out of two is defective
three out of four have defective teeth.
). 1t reduces labor turnover
makes fewer hands to train.
G. 1t m0bilizes the forces of public
health and welfare.
(. 1t increases wealth A healthy |
is a good banking commun-
ity.
s. 1t prevents epidemics.
9. 1t protects the home. A healthy |
home produces a more efficient worker,
a more contented citizen.
10. Public health is purchasable. A
to large extent can deter
mine it's own death rate.
We have the starting seed for this
work here in Rusk county. Let every
one do their little bit to make it grow
for all great things are started from a
small beginning. Many cities in Wis
.0nsin are managed on a similar plan,
cut why not make Rusk the first county.