The Omaha morning bee., 1924-01-23
Baby Health Conferences Launch
Sheppard ToWner Work

ity and infancy, is urging women of
the state to aid in the calling of these
conferences.
The title calls up picture OF
solemn and rosy cherubs, carrying
medicine cases and dressed. like the
youngster who represents Life" in
a tall top hat merely. pronouncing
sedate opinions in the intranslatable
language of their realm. 1t would be
assumed that their statements dealt
with hygiene.
The reality is not so far away, ex-
cept that the medicine cases. the top
hats, and the opinions would belong
to the local physicians of the district.
But one can best get-at the matter
of baby health conferences by tell
ing what they are not.
Not Baby Contest.
A baby health conference is not a
baby contest. No attempt is made to
interfere with the proud faith OF
every parent that his and her infant
Is at least as perfect as any, other
persons. The object OF the conference
is two-fold: first, to find out whether
anything hinders a given youngster
from realizing 100 per cent on his
own physical endowment, and second
to form a basis for scientific work
for the Improvement OF health
among Nebraska little ones.
Catch them young" is the motto
of the doctor or nurse who really
wants to cure the physical defects
of a child. Most of the amazingly
large crop OF physical disabilities re
vealed by the draft could have been
cured. say medical authorities, had
the sufferers received proper medical
attention in infancy. But alas' the
mischief Is usually done and irrepar'
able long before the child finds out
that anything special is the matter
with him.
Nobody knows how many Nebras-
ka children are being allowed to snf-
fer for the lack of such attention.
we have no way" says the state
department report. 'of securing even
a close estimate of the number OF
children in the state who are SUI
fering from physical defects. Reports
from baby health conferences which
have been conducted in various parts
of the state indicate that the per
centage is very high. We believe
that Nebraska's real problem is the
physically defective child
Not a Free Clinic.
a
free clinic. II discovers and dag
noses the troubles OF babies. but 1t
leaves the prescription and care OF
those diseases to the local physi-
clans and the public health nurses
who follow up the work Of each con
ference.
Each child registered for the con
ference Is physically examined and
a careful report made. Within six
months public health nurse from
the state division OF child hygiene
will return TO the community and
do follow-up work. using the confer
ence reports as a guide. She VIII
call at the homes OF the parents and
II the defect has not been corrected.
will talk with them about having IL
properly cared for. II case re-
auires the care of specialist, the
family physician Is the natural per-
son to make the recommendation.
The nurse only urges that the par
ents see the family physician about
defects found at the conference. IL
the parents OF the child wish. she
will help them make plans for the
necessary medical or hospital care.
The baby health conferences depend
upon local physicians and public
spirited people and organizations for
tho brunt OF their work. Tsey do
not import examining physicians. In
nearly every community there are
capable persons who are glad TO
give their time when they under
stand the nature and object of the
plan.
Community Health Center.
Wherever sufficient interest is
found in public health. the division
of child hygiene will follow the con
ference with the establishment OF
n community health center where
health lectures and children's health
conferences will be conducted at reg
ular intervals.
Citizens and organizations inter.
eeted In child welfare are urged to
inquire further about these confer
ences OF Mrs c. II. England. d.
rector division OF child hygiene. state
department OF health and welfare,
Lincoln, Neb.