Evening star., 1938-05-03
CH|LDCARE GAINS
SEENFORD|STR|CT
Deficiencies and High Rate
of Mortality Noted by
Speakers, However.

A more optimistic attitude toward
the Districts care of mothers and
children than in former years was ex-
pressed by speakers at the May Day
child health luncheon yesterday, al
though it was pointed out that Wash
ington's maternal and infant mortality
rate still exceeds that of the Nation
as a whole.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who pre-
ceded her Nationwide broadcast from
the luncheon in the Willard Hotel
with talk addressed directly to the
guests. reafflrmed her opinion of the
need for tuberculosis clinic at Freed
mems Hospital.
Pointing to a chart which showed
the high percentage of tuberculosis
among colored people in the District,
she said:
ANY portion of community which
contributes that amount of difference
in health should make every one real
ize that such proportion affects the
entire community. 1t is important.
therefore, that We do as much, or even
more, for groups with high percent
az" of III health as we do for Others"
Stresses Adolescent Care.
Mrs Roosevelt emphasized the need
for continuing the care of children
through adolescence, and encouraged
the agencies working with the Adde'S
cent child.
Urging the citizens of every commu-
nifty to use their talents in the interest
of their communities as a whole, Mrs
Roosevelt in her broadcast said every
thing that contributes to community
life affects the child.
mo amount of good government,
trained workers or money is going to
achieve maximum results" she said,
unless 1t is spent in the interest of
the individual community"
She charged her listeners with the
necessity of working every day to give
children the right to come into the
world without handicaps.
Unless We have well-cared-for chill
dren growing up," she said, "our civil
ization is not going on successfully.
We must all be interested in the chill
dren Of the Nation"
Birth-Rate Drop Cited.
Miss Katharine Lenroot. chief of the
Labor Departments Children's Bu-
reau, gave an extensive report on
maternal and child health. She called
attention to the downward trend of the
birth rate and said it becomes tre-
mendously important that all chill
dren should have maximum opportu-
mites for life, health, education and
social achievement.
Referring specifically to the Dis
trict. she reported that 80 white and
AZ colored women died in the Dis
trict during 1886 from causes directly
due to pregnancy and childbirth. She
pointed out that the maternal NOR
tality rate of SO per 10000 live births
here was far in excess of the ma
tional figure of 81 per 10000. The
same excessive death rate figured in
comparisons between the District and
the Nation in stillbirths and neona-
tai mortality.
In the field of prenatal care she
recommended increased efforts for
early registration, more adequate
follow-up, development of a dental
hygiene program for clinic patients,
development of medical social service
and increase in obstetrical nursing
and nutrition personnel
CIo;,,,. Eoo;I;
~ Tuoa>~u.&.
Miss Lenroot said provision for hos
pitalization Of free maternity cases in
the District is far from sufficient, iso-
lation facilities for infected patients
are inadequate, provision for nursing
care of newborn infants is below the
standards In most hospitals and little
provision has been made for the care
of newborn infants.
She praised the Bureau Of Maternal
and Child Welfare Of the Health De-
partment and said definite and i'm
portant progress has been made since
the bureau was completely organized"
She remarked on the encouraging
progress in the reduction Of infant
mortality and added that the needs
are known, and the possibilities of
saving lives and preserving and safe
guarding the health of children of the
District are clear.
Chairman Collins of the District
subcommittee Of the House Appropria-
tions Committee said both the House
and the Senate subcommittee on ap-
preparations have recognized the need
for tuberculosis clinic at Freedman's
Hospital. He also pointed to other
steps the District has taken toward
insuring the lives of its children.
An optimistic view Of the future,