The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1939-07-28
AKA SORORITY
OPENS FIFTH
ANNUAL HEALTH
CT IC AT
MOUND BAYOU

MOUND BAYOU, Miss. (ANPo---
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority opened
is fifth annual clinic here Monday
with large number of patients
waiting to receive the medical treat
mant and advice provided by the
AKA health nifty.
The health program, originated u
1884 by Miss Ida L. Jackson, was
aimed to combat the vencra ldisease
among Negroes in the deep South.
Over 800 cases have been treated
during the pr escnt clinic, many q
whom return annually for advice
and examination.
National and state health officials
have checked closely on the WORK
uadetakcn BY the AKA women ana
as result have urged them to con-
tinue and to expand their plans Tor
Improvement of the health OF the
Negro.
At the beginning Of this years
clinic. Dr. r. p. Dedwylder, county
health supervisor for Bolivar county,
announced that during the year -
500 cases whose treatment had been
initiated by the sorority stafi work
ers had been completed by the per
sonnel Of the county health q epar1-
ment, using medications which haa
been provided by the Alpha kappa
Alpha health unity
DR.. Dorothy Boulding ferebee,
chairman Of he health committee,
DR.. Mary Williams, nationally known
IN the field Of rural public health,
and Miss Jackson, founder Of the
proiect. are members Of the cllhle
STAFF, each one of whom has given
five years Of service to the promo
tion Of the porjeet.
This health project began opefa'-
my through veneral imnlunizafiea
program, which has expanded eaco
wear to include dental health, ma
tcnsal heaH,h and general eiseass
ease-tnding surveys
Tor ths 1899 clinic, he health eohl
mittec introduced q demonstratIeiiai
dietototherapy project Ihls pla'1'
based on five years ! observation llad
for it's purpose combating The de-
yastating results Of mal-nntrltion
and diet deficiency diseases trace.
able to the great needs OF fufa
areas Of the South.
DR.. Thomas Parran, surgeon gen
eral Of the United State PuDils
Health servoce highly endorses the
work Of the sorority and IS anxious
that this new work be launched.
Mrs. Franklin u. Roosevelt and MIS-
Henry Morganthau, wife oi the sec
retarv Of the treasury, Mrs. Ihom-
as Parran, wife Of the surgeon gen,
eral, are greatly interested ~ the
work being done by these women
toward better health.
one Of the greatest achievements
aside from the fact that TINS pro-
ieet is showing what can be dolle
bv groups of Interested people Y
the changed attitude and splflt q
cooperation that the white residel'as
and health officials of Mississlptl
have shown. This work has dohe
much promote good vile and M
a4rstanding between Negroes ard
whites in the South.
The health committee lstrodueed
treatment fo rveneral disease with
Wasserman ests as a part Of theH
health program during 1887. Al
though this was the original plan,
the immunization program for ehli-
dren took precedence because health
Child programs are established WIN
preater facility, Since September,
1898, a daily clinic for veneral dis
ease has been operating III some
sections of Bolivar county as an eN-
tenaio of the work begun by the
sorority.
With the health committee for
this years clinic Miss Marjorie Hol-
loman Of Washington, DC, who mas
served in the clinic for four years.
Miss Alma Porter, teacher Of physi-
cal education and hygiene in the
public schools Of Indianapolis; Miss
Sallie Guitars Of Newark, Nd, and
Mis- sBessie Lee Of Alexander Va,
both graduates Of Freadman's Hos
pital School of Nursing.
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