New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-26
new Health Clinic
BUILT IN GALILEE
American Women Erect Modern
Building in Palestine

With one stroke American women
have In an important respect made
OF ancient GaliIee in Palestine a
modern community In a setting OF
the remains of a second century wall.
Of ruins of age old fortresses and
ST ee;s that are tortu.ous, under
ground alleys. there now stands IN
the village OF Javniei new white
building that houses 4 health well
fare cliuic of the latest type
modeleu after American health
clinics. The structure. small as it is.
stands out prominently in contrast
to the clustered piles OF mud and
clay that for the most part comprise
the hailtats of the village folk. 1t
is the fiist health clinic in Galilee.
The station. which is the twenty
first in Palestine. established by
Hadassah. the Women's Zionist Or
ganization OF America, and which is
maintained by Hadassah and group
Of Galilean women. will do mission-
ary work of q different kind from
that which made Galilee famous In
the first century. Then the spread
of the new religion was the aim of
the preachers; today the new mis-
sionaries" preach a code of cleanlt-
ness. personal hygiene. health. n
knowledge of wholesome food values
and efficient housekeeping. and try
to dispel the traditional taboos and
superstitions that surround birth
and child rearing. Galilee lies about
700 feet below sea level. and during
the incredibly hot summer months
disease spreads rapidly. The nurse
in charge Of the Galilee station Nas
given q complete course in the
Hadassah Nurses Training School
| in jerusalem.
Since 1922. when the first Hadas-
sab welfare clinic was established,
| thousa nds of mothers have been
taught personal care during and
after pregnancy and the care Of their
children up to the age OF two. In
struction in hygiene and prevention
of diseases was only a part of the
task of the nurses and doctors. For
long time they had an uphill fight
ir roofing out Ignorance and super
sutton. Driving out the devil OF
illness" from a child by applying
hot iron to his stomach was 4 COM
mon practise Tho health clinic
stats had to combat the conception
Of hygiene that called for the tight
shutting Of all windows even In the
summer. overdressing and rarely
bathing the children and seldom
bringing them to doctor for en-
animation until they were beyond
medical aid. The acceptance of the
rev ideas and methods spread by
the health welfare stations has been
slow but steady process. and the
nurses and doctors now only occa-
sionally meet with instances Of gross
ignorance. The gospel of healthy
bodies and healthy minds is grad
ually becoming part Of the daily
life of all classes in Palestine, and
through them among the natives Of
other eastern countries.
How far reaching has been the in
FAINT welfare work can be seen from
official statistics Of the Department
of Health of the government Of
Palestine. which credit the Jews with
the lowest infant mortality rate. as
well az the lowest birth rate and
adult mortality rate. The govern
laent. in the report, states that the
"ex.tnsiue medical and hospital serv-
ice provided by the Jews and the
development OF maternity and child
welfare crntets is no doubt a factor
in securing ;h.s economy of life
The infant death rate among the
Jews in 1927 was lis per thousand
among the Christians. 1871, and
among the Moslems. Ell. During the
same year 10000 mothers and chill.
dren were given care at the Hadas-
sab infant welfare clinics.
Hadassah expects during the year
20 raise $4,000 10 support its health
welfare system. In addition to these
clinics. Hadassah maintains in Pales.
tine four hospitals and conduct.
medical service in rural districts
anti trachoml and anti malaria
tcampaigns, home nursing. schoo
hygiene and school luncheons
Trachoma, the eye disease. which i.
one OF the worst stourges in the
Orient. has been reduced in these
schools here hygiene is taught from
~ to IL per cent as compared witt
&: per cent Of the pupils which sut.
fer from the disease in those schools
which for financial reasons cannn
yet be included in the inspection
program. In the schools where -,g
ular examinations are made skin dis
cases have been practically wipe,
out.
The latest health institutions IL
Palestine are the Nathan and Lin;
Straus Health Center in Jerusalem
and similar one in Tel Aviv. boil
to be maintained by Hadassah. il
, America $4,000 womea in the senio
and junior orga nizations Of Hadas
sab are active in raising upwards G
100000 annually for. the main
tenance of the health institution i,
Palestine.