Evening journal., 1921-08-26
cHuD wELrARE m BELGIUM.

vvVAROuGH the Second International Conference the
Il Protection OF Childhood held at Brussels from july
Is TO July 2i the attention OF The world has been caieu
to the program Belgium is working out for me cohserN@-
ton OF childhood subject that receiving much a''en-
ton in Delaware or timely interest is article by Dr.
Rene sand OF the University Of Brussels, recently re-
ceived by the u S. Department Of Labor through the
Chdrens Bureau How intelligence, determination ana
united effort triumph conquest war and famine IS
vivdly portrayed in this discussion Of industrial Neai-
cal Reconstruction in Belgium" which appeared in "V-
ing Medicine"
during the years Of occupation, when the govern
ment had left the Belgian soil and the only central CO
ordnating agency the voluntary Comte National
public health activities were started hitherto un-
known scale and for the first twc years there was an
actual decline infant mortality Dr. sand accounts Tor
this in part by the cessation OF industrial work TOT
women The Chldrens Welfare League, which mad De-
gun to function to limited extent before the war de-
yeloped in the midst Of the most dncu circumstances
until even the smallest village was reached
In spite Of these efforts the child was at the
time OF the armstice full year backward in normal
development the weight OF the Brussels school
boy was three pounds below normal and Of the average
school girl, seven pounds.
The FIRST step r the medical reconstruction Of industry
was the establishment OF Independent Labor Medical
Service which includes lis functions the protection OF
expecan and nursing working and the care Of the
health OF working children The service Immediately
formulated constructive program which enlisted the
cooperation OF all agencies concerned in the promotion
Of public health including the health Of working mothers
and their children.
In the United States eighteen States provide for the
physical examination OF every child entering Industry,
but no State has provided for examinations Of working
children at regular intervals Belgium has adopted the
advanced program Of medical examination for every
Juvenile not later than month after he has entered an
industrial occupation 10 be repeated year Intil
the child reaches 49, and oftener in OF disease
Belgium has realized that health protection in the com
munity must go hand hand with health protection in
industry and Dr. sand emphasizes the following points;
General public health work child welfare; housing the
restriction OF alcohol consumption and education and
recreation both for adults and children.
national childrens board been established which
is maintained by public and private funds and which
supevlses and supports child welfare organizations
meeting certain conditions The child welfare program
includes periodical free examlnato- children under
three years Of age brought by their mothers for examna
on the establishment OF free medical dispensaries for
expectant mohers the diffusion OF knowledge relating Ia
infant health and maternal nursing; and the supervision
OF boarded-out children under years Of age The
cost Of child welfare work will be borne onehalf by the
state one-fourh by the province and onefourth by the
municipality Provincial and municipal boards ap-
pointed by the national board, and advisory committees
are provided for