The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-17
ASKS FOR DIVORCE. OF HEALTH WORK FROM POLITICIANS
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or precautionary health measures is to incur disfavor, Ender such cir cumstances, a health official who discharges his duty not only courts quick climax to his own career, but the downfall of the departmen, under political influences.
 'oThe department of health, which is not actually politically appointed but which is dependent upon politi- cal governing bodies for the dis bursement of funds, become similar ly confronted with political inter- ference unless a policy is followed that does not hazard or jeopardize tho votes of members oftthe govern mg bodies il subsequent e.ections This tends toward retrogression rather than progression in the light of modern pL blic health measures.
 There is but one public health unit in Jefferson county and the loss of the health officer, sanitary engineer, laboratory techniciars, sanitarians, dairy experts or public health nurses frequently necessi- tates search outside the state of Alabama for one who has qualifica- tions and has had training and eX- perienee in the branch required. The beard of health in order to maintain efficiency is the only logical body to fix salaries within it's budget, auv not pol;icdns who lack understand ing of the breadth of responsibili- tfes discharged by employees of the department of health.
 ResuIts Of Five Years.
 "1he present board of health, the only authoritative body qualified to express an opinion, which in spite O. the numerous political obstacles has lr the past five years reduced the general death rgte from 2S.3 to 13 r typhoid death rate from 65 to l2,- tubercI losis death rate from 222 to I37, infant death rate from l48 to g2. and infant mortality caused by diarrhoea and enteaitis from lS5 to 27 has denounced political interfer- ence as seriously impairing ana handicapping efficiency and healtn administration, which conviction has been unanimously indorsed by reso- lutions adopted by the Jefferson County Medical society.
 "Proposed legislation before the state legislature will give the board as the library board or board of edu- as the library board or board ofedu- eatfon over funds allotted to them, while it pro vides that eXpendlture es be accounted for ~1n Getail to the governing bodies appropriating the funds. Hlman Geaths cannot be ae- counted for before they occur; nellh- CT can JJdicious expenditure or money be furnished before necessF ties of administration are presenteo'
 Public health removed from poll ties will relieve governing bodies of very harrassing factor. It will not only facilitate public health control h ymaking it more elastic and eff ficient. but will tend to raise politics to a higher plane by abolishlng the necessity of juggling votes and dol- lars and cents with human lives; while politicians vii not feel ob- ligated to curry favor with certain classes or groups of people by unjust ly attacking or criticizing construc- tive health measures and machinery funetionlng as intended by law. The most unwarrantable attacks on the executive agent of the board of health have been made in the past for political expediency by certain politicians who have never set foot in the department of health and who have been unposted in the scope of operations performed or of the results attained in lessening disease and the safeguarding of human lives.
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