The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-07-26
CHILD HEALTH MATTER
OF GREATEST IMPORT

4 n lldC q hNcA1
and a helping hand and a tender
heart to the plight of the war-torn
and famine-ridden lands Of Europe.
1t has sem food to build up their
small bodies, skeleton thin, or swollen
with hunger. 1t has sent warm cloth
ing to protect these helpless ones
from the rigors Of winter. 1t has sent
trained relief workers to bear in per-
son to these little ones the best skill
and love of u nation. All through
Europe the United States has estab-
lished itself firmly as the cdildren's
friend.
This is as it should be, nor is there
any adequate reason why our country
should depart from the precedent 1t
las established humanity knows
no boundaries. Suffering childhood
may rightfully claim sheltering par
ent care from all the world.
But the United States of America
must not, in remembering the Child
rem of other countries. forget its own.
Child health, like charity, should be-
gin at home. 1t is a significant fact
that the American Relief Admins
tration, which during the last eight
years has cared for more than 15,-
100000 children of Europe, has now
decided to put its full strength into
work for American children, under
auspices of the newly organized
American Child Health Association.
It is a matter of no light import
that Herbert Hoover, secretary OF
our Department of Commerce and
known throughout the world as a
leading organizer of child relief, has
considered the need here in the U. 5.
great enough to demand the new or
ganization of which he will be presi-
dent. 1t is a thing to engage the pub
lie attention that two such organlza-
tions as the American Child Hygiene
Association and the Child Health Or
g~anization of America merge to form
this new American Child Health AS
ISOLATION, in order to strengthen the
effort for the advancement of child
health in the country.
That it is a critical situation of
utmost concern is proved by a few of
the facts with which the American
Child Health Association %confronts
the country. There are slightly more
than 22,OO0,0 900 school children in
the United States they tell us. Of
these children, millions, it is. estimat-
ed from reliable studies, are so far
below average weight as to demand
searching inquiry as to the cause and
many are suffering from serious de-
fects.
Nor is this all. The statistics COM
piled by the American Child Health
Association show that $1,000 Of the
2,5OO,00O babies born in the United
States every year die before they are
a year old. They show a maternal
mortality rate of over seven deaths
in childbirth for every thousand live
as against less than three
deaths per thousand in Italy, Nor
and Sweden. More than half
these deaths of both mothers and
babies could be prevented by skill
full and intelligent are The per-
,entage of malnutrition and physical
in our schools could be re-
iuced to an inconsiderable mini
mum.
1t is the children of our W land
who are now crying out to us for
aid. Their need is not a starving
of war or famine, but none
The less great and none the less real.
The nations whole future is affected
unless their health is assured.
The American Child Health As
ISOLATION offers every citizen in the
States, not merely every doc
5or, every nurse, every teacher, every
worker, and every parent,
out every citizen of the nation, a
way to come to the aid of the coun-
RVS children by getting behind the
lew health program it has outlined
'or them. A few people, even though
hey are led by men as great as Her
pert Hoover and the nationally known
doctors and child health workers who
lave enrolled under his leadership,
cannot bring wide success to health
plans of the scope that the Associa-
ion has worked out for the children
If the United States. 1t will take us
III.
Will we fail to recognize that
Americas children, too, have their
.laims?-A. C. H. A. Bulletin.