The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1921-12-15
MEANS DISCoNTINUANCE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
Red Cross Points Out Lack of
Funds May Close Work In
Lewis County.-Up
to People.


quarters of the Lewiston Red
Cross Chapter, is meant for SER
ious reflection by the people of
this county, for unless we place
our health and the health of our
children above dollars and cents
and ask our county commission
ers for an appropriation suffic-
lent to make up the deficiency OF
the recent Red Cross roll call
drive in the county, the public
health service must be discontin-
ued here. The report says:
What is regarded as serious
situation in a potion of the terri
tory of the Lewiston chapter,
American Red Cross, is now con-
fronting the chapter manage
ment. 1t appears that up to Dec.
T, the total amount received from
the roll call was $3,371.23, of
which but $150.9S was from Ida
no county and $172.50 from Lew
is county. The remaining 2,843
was from Lewiston and Nez
Perce county. This is in face of
the fact that, since September,
1920, about 81, LOO has been ex-
pended in Lewis county and
about 5000 in Idaho county, by
the Lewiston chapter; a total for
the two counties of $4,000.
1t now appears quite evident
that the work of the public
health nurses in these two coun-
ties cannot be continued unless
the amount pledged by the chap
ter as salary for the nurses, of
81 900 for each county. be secur-
ed soon. This amount of $4,000
is in addition to what is needed
for relief work. During the win
ter Of 1919-20, the Lewiston
chapter employed instructors in
home hygiene and the care of the
sick, and the courses were given
in communities in all of the three
counties, the amount of 81, 900 be-
ing thus expended, or an average
Of more than 5000 in each county.
This would at least add $1,000 to-
the $4,000 spent in Idaho and
Lewis counties for public health
nurse service.
The roll. call conducted from
year to year by the chapter has
thus far made it possible for the
chapter to give continued ser
vice, due largely to the. fact that
it has been aided in so doing by
using the surplus of funds onI
hand at the close of the war,
these now being exhausted. The
funds must now be raised in the
territory where the service is
given. The chapter has made AMI
effort to give the women and
children in the rural communities
the same chance for health that
those of the cities have. Never
during an epidemic has call
from school or otherwise been
made on the chapter for help but
the call has been promptly met.
1t is regarded as one of the big
gest assets that any county can
have to be able, in case of an cpl
demic III school, to have it con
trolled by contact inspection by
the county nurse. There is no
way of knowing how much this
may mean to any community
merely in dollars and cents, to
say nothing of the human consid-
erations. With the discontinue
ance of the public health nurse
health service, there will be no
way of continuing this county
work.
1t is known that more than
1000 children have been inspec
ed during the past year, in the
chapter territory for physical
defects. 1t is known that the
'irst "flu" epidemic cost the
chapter more than $4,000 in the
hree counties. An especially
arge amount of this work was
lone in Lewis county. The exc (
'utive committee of the chapter
las always followed the policy of !
laving the several counties share !
like, but the situation has now
cached such a point it is evil i
lently incumbent on the citizens
f the several counties to see that
ufficient support is given to con- ID
inue the service. The lack Of ]
upport is not from lack of need
or the work, for the demand is
S great as ever.
Owing to the desire of the exc
utive committee to close the roll t
all by December IL, it is con- &
idered hopeless to consider the S
ontinuation of the public health a
urse service in Idaho and Lewis
ounties, unless the county boards c