Evening star., 1941-09-06
Ruh|and Seeks
Health Fund
Of S3,530,788
Asks Funds for
Health Center and
Campaign on Cancer
By DON S. WARREN.

Campaign on lancer
BY DON S. WARREN.
Establishment of three new serv-
ices. to fight the spread of cancer,
to give guidance to mentally handl-
capped school children and to con-
serve the hearing of pupils. is pro-
posed by Health Officer George G..
Ruhland in the 1943 estimates for
his department, released today by
the Commissioners.
In all, the Health Department
seeks S3,530,788 for the next fiscal
year, as against s3,ll0,507 this year,
an increase of s420,281. or about 13
per cent. This would provide for
expansion of many existing services,
including employment of 176 addi-
tional workers.
The only major construction item
is a request for $i15,250 for compile
ton of the proposed Northwest
health center, for which the Appro-
priation Act for the present year
carries $l4,750 for purchase of a
site and $4,000 for starting of con-
struction. At latest report. the Dis
trict still was encountering difficult
ties in selection and purchase of
a site.
Men, al Clinic for Pupils.
A bureau of mental hygiene, with
staff of two part-time psychia-
trists. two psychologists and three
pSychiatric social workers, would be
set up to operate clinic to aid pu-
pills who are lin need of assistance
to become adjusted to their environ
ments." The annual salary costs
would be $4,000. The work, it is
said, would be entirely diagnostic
and consultative. Such a service,
the department said, was requested
by the Board of Education and pre-
viously had been recommended in
the Kepecs report, approved by an
advisory committee on child welfare
problems.
mo data are available on the ex-
tent of the mental hygiene problem
in the District, but it is estimated
that approximately 5000 school
children. or per cent of the en-
1 tire enrolment, is in need of psy-
chiatric study and guidance" DR.
Rutland said.
"One of the primary objectives OF
the program will be to work out ad-
justments which will reduce later
conflicts with the law"
| DR.. Rutland also revealed that
the Board of Education Committee
on Educational Problems of Handi-
capped Children had requested the
Health Department to establish a
hearing conservation clinic. Fol
this purpose DR.. Rutland asks the
employment of an biologist on q
half-time basis at $4,000 a year
1t was estimated he would be able
TO examine 1900 pupils a school
year, whereas medical reports show
1888 children have hearing de-
fects.
A cancer control division would
be set up in the department with a
special staff of one half-time physi-
clan, a medical social worker and a
stenographer at cost of s6,655 a
year. Cancer would be made a
reportable disease by health regu-
lation
Provides For Follow-up.
Functions of the new division
would be to coordinate efforts Of
other clinics and private physicians
especially dermatologists, surgeons
and radiologists. Medical, social anc
nursing follow-up would be done or
suspected and known cases of the
disease, in move to get cases under
4 treatment before the disease ha!
advanced too far, and educationa
programs would be planned to tn,
same end.
DR.. Rutland emphasized that can
Ger in 1910 was second in rank a.
a cause of death in the District, anc
that the mortality rate for thi
disease had increased from 756 pc
10000 population in 1905 to ISL
in 1910.
In supporting his requested in
crease in funds, DR.. Ruhlanc
stressed that the population of tn,
District had increased by 150.00'
under national defense activities ant
that this has heaped new burden
on the Health Department.
Twenty additional employees ar
sought for the administrative stat
of the department, where an in
crease of sac. .632 is sought. New
employees would include two medi
cal officers at $4,600 year, to b.
assigned to the Southwest and tn,
proposed Northwest Health Cen
ters.
More Nurses Asked.
Five more workers are requested
for the Bureau of Maternal ant
Child Welfare. For the school medi
cal inspection service, 18 additiona
workers are requested at a cost o
s42,520, including supplies. Amonl
this new personnel would be thos
to conduct the mental hygiene serv
ice and the clinic on hearing con
servation.
Twenty-n extra workers ant
!, additional supplies are asked TO
, the Nursing Bureau at a cost o
S59,785. There would be 20 addi
tional nurses and two supervisors a
well as an assistant director for tn
bureau.
Thirteen more workers, at cos
Of S15,720, are sought for the Tu
berculosis Control Division, me-
If -