Evening star., 1937-01-15
VISITING NURSES
FORCE INCREASED
Three Additional Nurses Are
Added to Combat Growing
Influenza Cases.

In an effort to combat the ever-in-
creasing number Of influenza cases in
the District, the Community Chest
yesterday added three nurses to the
force of the Visiting Nurse Society.
The action was taken after meeting
called by the Budget Committee to
adjust Chest funds so that the nurses
could be supplied.
In making the necessary adjust
fnents, the Budget Committee took
into consideration the larger popula-
ton of the city, the decreased stamina
and the health of families which have
been on relief during the depression
and the large additional number of
cases handled by the Instructive
Visiting Nurse Society because Of the
prevalence of influenza. all calling for
additional nursing facilities. 1t was
decogniZed that even more nurses
were needed, but the funds of the
Chest could not possibly be stretched
to provide more than three.
Society Received S11S,431.
While deploring the inability of the
Chest to supply more nurses at this
time, Herbert L. Willett, jr., director
OF the Chest, pointed out that the
ALLEGATION of funds for three addi-
tional nurses brings the Chest con-
tribution to the Instructive Visiting
Nurse Society to $118,431.56, the
largest amount that this organization
has received from Chest funds since
sffiliating with the Chest in 1929. He
called attention to the fact that this
ALLEGATION is in addition to the earned
income of the society.
I'VE know that the need for more
nurses exists" Willett said. DIR.
Fuhland, District health officer. has
stated repeatedly that the District
needs three times as many public
health nurses as 1t now has and that
his own department is seriously un-
dermanred.
The Community Chest is doing its
best to meet the situation with the
funds available. While the Chest fell
more than 100000 short of its goal
for 1887, We are still giving the In
structive Visiting Nurse Society more
than two and one-half times the
amount it raised by direct gifts and
solicitation in 1923. the last year be-
fore t joined the Chest.
Funds Have Increased.
'1n 1928 the public of Washington
contributed by direct gifts 5000 to
the Instructive Visiting Nurse Society.
In 1929 the Chest, which took over
the solicitation for the direct gifts to
this agency as we'll as 56 others, paid
the nurses $4,000. This was raised
to $4,000 in 1880; to S84 900 in 1881 :;
to $103, 900 in 1882, and to Sill 900
in 1888, the peak year of the de-
preston. In 1884 the nurses received
only 100000 from the Chest. The
p. E. r. A. was paying for care Of
persons on relief. who would other
wise have been Chest expense. Chest
funds to the Instructive Visiting Nurse
Society we're increased to sl09 900 in
1885; TO s11eS0s56 in 1886, and to
e11s431.56 for the coming year.
THE Chest is doing everything
humanity possible to meet the welfare
situation in Washington. 1t is fed
Grafton of IS welfare agencies, each
with equal rights, in proportion to the
type and extent Of service rendered,
in the disposition of its funds. Again
1t must be considered that the amount
asked by the Chest for these IS agen-
cies was not raised The work of all
has been curtailed, but the Chest has
not reduced the amount of funds
dedicated to public nursing"