Evening star., 1936-08-26
HEALTH BUDGET
FOR '3S DOUBLED
Rutland Asks for $1,117,492
to Increase Fight on
Disease.
nv non s. WARREN.

Optimistic, even in the face OF re-
peated demands from the Commis-
sioners for strict economy in the 1888
estimates, Health Officer George G.
Ruhland has proposed budget for
his department for the next fiscal
year amounting to $l,1l7492, or more
than double the appropriation for
this year.
While expansion of the fight against
disease was proposed nearly all along
the line, most of the increase would
be for starting program of construc-
ton of new health centers, for COM
bined purposes, for which he asked
$500,000 for two new buildings next
year. The total program for five pro-
posed new centers would cost 81, ,250,-
900.
Aside from this suggestion. the in
creases would amount to $lo9,522, or
about 81 per cent over current appro-
priations. To strengthen the battle
against disease DR.. Rutland asked
employment of 81 additional workers
at a cost of $95.l74.
The total requested by DR.. Rutland
would raise the per capita cost Of
health here to ST 88. This. he argued.
still would be lower than the standard
set by the American Public Health
Association, which ranges from $l.98
to- $2.37.
Would Expand Clinics.
The health officer is seeking to ex-
pand services of the health clinics.
broaden the school medical inspection
services, institute a new educational
campaign under the guidance of a
special director, enlarge the Nursing
Bureau and create new bureau of
laboratories.
That mortality rates here in the
case of five major diseases exceed
that Of the country as a whole was
cited by DR.. Rutland as an argument
for the proposed increases. The death
rate for diphtheria for 1885 was fig
ured at 40 per 100000 population for
the District and 33 for the Nation;
epidemic meningitis, 1877 for the Dis
trict and 10 for the Nation: pneu-
monia, 1878 for the District and 79.4
for the Nation; communicable tuber-
culosis, 1922 for the District and
56.6 for the Nation, and social dis
the Nation.
Supporting his plan for construction
of two new health centers for handling
all types of INDECENT diseased patients.
Dr. Rutland told the Commissioners:
with the growth of cities, the es-
tablishment of district or regional
health centers has become a well-rec-
ognized feature for efficient promotion
of modern health work. Such health
centers are planned to provide facili-
ties for diagnosis, consultation and
treatment of the clientele that is to
be served. The building provides hous-
ing for group of public health nurses
and welfare workers, together with
the clerical staff attached to these
services.
Health Education Program.
THE building should provide hous-
ing for a group of public health
nurses and welfare workers, for med
ical and dental treatments, for labora-
tory services, record rooms; IN short,
provide for all of the activities recog-
nized in modern public health work.
Facilities should be provided also
for carrying on health education work
by lecture, supplemented by stereop-
ticon, motion picture and other means
well recognized in carrying on popular
health education. Needless to say,
the location of such building should
be where it is readily accessible by
existing lines of transportation and
where it will most conveniently serve
the clientele of the district that it is
to help by this service"
DR.. Rutland suggested that the
proposed two buildings nigh. be
undertaken with Federal assistance
through the PWA.
One of the purposes of the health
centers would be to combine in one
building services for variety of all
ments so the public would not know
that person going there for treat
ment does so for one particular dis
ease, and thus come under stigma
In certain instances.
For general Health Department SAL
aries, the estimates proposed appro-
priation of S191 ,108 as against $685.
100 for this year DR.. Ruhland asked
employment of 18 additional workers,
at a cost of $30,32e. This would
provide eight additional sanitary and
food inspectors, a director of health