The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-05-04
MAY DAY
A Message From the Chief of the Chldren's
Bureau
BY Katharine +. LenrOOt

BY Katharine f. LenrOOt
"I'HE Health of the Child Is the Power of the
Nation" This is the slogan of May Day
Child Health Day 1889. Perhaps no slogan has
ever expressed SO clearly and comprehensively the
Importance of protecting child life from infancy
through adolescence.
For the fourth consecutive year the Children S
Bureau has been requested by the State and Pro-
vincial Health Authorities of North America to
sponsor the celebration of May Day-Chd Health
Day. The Children's Bureau appreciates the
privilege of leadership in celebration which de-
pends for it's upon the cooperation of State
and local units OF government, public and private
organizations, the schools, civic organizations and,
what is of equal Importance, the children them
selves.
Many communities this year are emphasizing
the importance of good nutrition in developing
their May Day programs We know that children
must be we'll nourshed if they are to be healthy
in every way. This does not mean that we'll
nOuriShed children cannot get sick. But they usual
ly have more resistance to many kinds of disease
and better chance to get well quickly If they DO
fall i'll.
Mothers and fathers have d responsibility for
the health Of their children that starts before the
children are born and lasts until they are fully
grown. Mothers who eat the right foods and who
obey other rules of health give their babies a good
chance to be born healthy.
Parents who take their children regularly to
the doctor for 4 physical examination, for advice
on food and health habits, and for protection
against such diseases as smallpox and diphtherla,
give their children the best chance for a healthy
childhood and for normal growth and development.
The day-tO-day care that children receive at
home and at school is equally important and should
be based reliable information on nutrition and
health
Mothers and fathers can see to it that children
form habits that will help to keep them in good
health throughout life.
The last years have brought many advances
in the welfare Of American children The death
rate of babies in 1897 was the lowest on record.
The death rate Of mothers is declining. In the
State with the lowest baby death rate only 80
babies died out of every 900 born alive in 1887.
We must do more than we have done to give our
babies an equal chance to be born alive and to be
protected in health and growth.
Reports of progress and activities Of the ma
telnal and child-hcalth services set up with Fed
claI and State funds under the authority of the
Social Security Act, show steady Improvement IN
both the extent and the quality Of services rem
dercd In single year these services made pos
Sibc the medical examination of nearly q million
and half school children; more than 10000
visits Of babies and preSchool children to medical
chldhealth conferences nearly 1OOO,OOO dlph-
liberia immunzatlOnS; more than 100000 small
poX ImmunZatlOnS; and more than 100000 den
tai inspections. Reports ON services Tor crippled
children also indicate great progress in restoring
to Il life Of physical WcIl-being and usefulness
many young people who might otherwise 80
through life with disabling handiCapS.
AS communities prepare to celebrate May Day
Child Health Day 1889, they should consider
both the outstanding needs Of the community and
the possibility Of meeting those needs with re-