The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-28
EDUCATION OF
BETTER HEALTH
NOW STRESSED
PROCLAMATION URGES ALL
COMMUNITIES TO OBSERVE
ANNUAL CHILD HEALTH
DAY

President Roosevelt has issued
a proclamation urging all COM
munities to celebrate Annual May
Day-Child Health Day, and to
promote the education of better
health information among par
entS, teachers and all others re-
sponsible for the care Of children.
The President is particularly snx-
ious that the children themselves
plan suitable health programs.
This year the slogan is, The
Health of the Child is the Power
of the Nation. Community fes-
rivals are being planned in all
sections of the state under the
supervision of Miss Ruth E. Met
finger of Jacksonville, director of
the Bureau of Public Health
Nursing, Florida State Board of
Health, who has been named
state chairman for the 1899 cele-
bration.
No slogan has ever expressed
so clearly and comprehensively
the Importance of protecting child
life from infancy through Adde'S
cence. Mothers and fathers have
a responsibility for the health of
their children that starts before
the children are born and lasts
until they are fully grown. Pub
lie health departments have as
one of their manifold responsible
ties, the assistance of mothers and
fathers in fulfilling the obligation
of health protection.
Nutrition OF Great Importance
Many communities this year
are emphasizing the importance
of good nutrition, according to
Miss Mettinger. She says this
does not mean that well nourish-
ed children cannot become sick,
but it does mean the public
realizes more and more that web
nourished children offer greater
resistance to most diseases and
stand a much better chance of
recuperating quickly if they do
fall ill.
FIorida's State Board of Health,
through its Maternal and Child
Health Bureau and its Bureau of
Public Health Nursing, is carry
ing on an extensive program of
child and maternal health. Since
additional funds were made
available under the Social Secur-
ity Act from both Federal and
State treasures the program has
been expanded considerably.
All clinics are conducted by a
physician with a registered pub
lie health nurse in charge. In
addition to working with the
mothers in the clinics the public
health nurses visit the homes
each month, especially during the
nine months period of preg-
nancy. Patients are referred to
the clinics by private physicians,
nurses and midwives.
Child Health Paramount
With one exception each of the
II counties in the State Of Flor
ida having full time health units,
has one or more health centers
where maternal and child health
conferences and clinics are held.
DR.. F. v. Chappell, director of
the Bureau of Maternal and
Child Health of the Florida State
Board of Health. reports there
are at present As permanent
health centers where approx
nlately 125 maternal and we'll
baby clinics are held each
motlth. The clinics meet month
ly. seni-monthly or weekly. de-
pending upon the number of in
digent patients in the county.
why should we continue to
protect and nurture child
health?" is a question often ask
ed. Because in 1897 (most re-
cent official figures available) the
u. S. birth rate reached an all
time low of IL live births per
1000 population; because in 1887
the Florida infant death rate was
considerably higher than the
average for the United States.
namely 59.8 for Florida against
54.4 for the u. S. average; be-
cause in Florida during 1887 the
maternal death rate was also
higher than the u. S. average,
namely 6.S for Florida against 40
for the u. S. average; because
most of the deaths occurring un-
der five years of age are from
causes related 10 birth, followed
closely By such preventable dis
eases as pneumonia, diarrhea and