The Omaha guide., 1942-09-26

Federal Works agency, and Federal
Security agency join hands to eth
er wipe out or halt the ravages
syphilis and v~enereal diseases are
causing in the United States.
Statistics show that the Negro has
the highest rate of venereal disease
in the country, due no doubt to the
negligence of health officers in the
areas where this prevalence is not
ed. 1t is said that Of the first mil
lion men called by the selective ser
vice, IS times more Negroes were
affected than whites. In some
states, the rate is 20 times MORO
than whites.
Because venereal disease cause
more casualties in the lest war tina
actual fighting, governmental az
encies decided something must b
done to check this terrific inroad Oil
cianpower. Consequently, a coz
-ition was formed to work against
~venereal diseases, with the view
point of educating the public thai
venereal diseases were not social
Diseases" but communicable diseas-
es.
camps most Of which are not under
the supervision of the war depart
ment, steps have been taken to take
over rs of these camps located in
II states wherein infected women
will be detained until they have
been rendered %innocuous or cured.
The period of detention determines
which stage they attain, although
when they are rendered innocuous,
the health officials in cities to
| which they return are notified and
the victims are asked to keep up
clinical visits until a cure is affect
ed.
In these camps, there will be no
differentiation as to the treatment
of whites and colored. They, Of
course, will be segregated as to
race, the administration will be by
state officials under the s~upervis-
ion of federal standards. When, it
is reported, these standards fail to
he observed, the same fate befalls
the camp, which operate under Title
II of the Lanham Housing act, that
happens to builders who do not OBJ
serve the non-discriminatory claus
es in their contracts; federal funos'
are withdrawn.
In one city, Jacksonville, where
some $50 prostitutes were arrested
in one day 10 had to be released
since facilities for the treatment If
only 40 were available.
Such conditions precipitated The
action of FSA which Immediately
set about securing the cooperation
of other agencies and establishing
program to be followed.
Another important committee was
appointed, whereby police assist
ance was sought in a voluntary
manner to wipe out this evil at its
source.
Discussions followed as to ways
and means of setting up the pro-
gram.
Among them were the worn out
idea of segregated districts. This
was promptly killed when it was
shown that an inhabitant Of one Of
these areas was more likely to
spread infection through the 80 to
40 contacts that persons had in the
average "a hour period, as contrast
ed with fewer contacts made in non
segregated areas.
1t was further shown that the
average prostitute, subjected to
regular inspection by physicians, Of
fered no safeguard since an infect,
ion could be made within five min
utes after the person had secured
a certificate as to freedom from
venereal disease.
One government official went SO
far as to state that such physicians
were not worthy of being called
doctors, since it is generally known
that the inspections are not infail-
ible.
From so to 90 percent of prosti-
tutes are infected, statistics show.
They also prove that a woman tree
! Of ~venereal disease, engaged in