Montana labor news., 1944-08-03

giene association, 1890 Broadway,
New York 10, New York The asso-
citation is a national voluntary health
agency closely teamed up with the
Army and Navy in the wartime COM
paign to combat syphilis and gonnor-
hea and all conditions favoring
their spread and is participating
service of the National War Fund.
VII
a trade unions recent report tracing
the health and welfare activities of the
organization concluded on the following
these Just as we pool our energies
to improve our wages, so must we or
ganize ourselves and conduct a consist
ent campaign to solve our no less press
ing welfare needs. Nobody is going tc
do anything for us unless we do il
ourselves. And we mean to do it because
wishing won't make it so"
What is necessary in a consistent
campaign to solve the nations number
one wartime health -venereal
disease?
Education must be the cornerstone.
Made aware of the facts, Industrial
workers know how to protect themselves
against infection. They also know that,
when found in their early stages and
properly treated, most cases of syphilis
and gonorrhea can be cured.
Circulate the Facts
It is hoped that those of you who have
read this series of articles will be eager
to see more people aware of the facts
through:
Meetings which deal with the fight
against VD. Local health authorities
might be invited to speak at regular
union meetings or at special meetings
devoted to social hygiene education.
Films which tell the story about VD
in an interesting manner, and which
are suitable for mixed audiences. Short
talks by qualified medical men after
film showings can be followed by an
swers to questions members may have.
Pamphlets which encourage people to
adhere to high standards of conduct Of
fering the best safeguard both to health
and morals, and which direct infected
people to seek treatment in time for best
results.
Here are a few additional things some
unions are doing:
1. Unions are participating in united
community activity against VD. These
activities include recreation and properly
supervised social programs designed to
prevent sex delinquency among young
people, in addition to pressure for the
enforcement of laws against prostitution
one of the leading sources of venereal
infection.
2. Unions are participating in joint la
bor- management VD control programs,
taking all steps deemed necessary to see
that diagnoses are confidential between
the individual and the doctor
3. Unions include the fight against VD
in their general health programs. This
is most desirable, People often are in
fected with syphilis without knowing it,
Many previously unsupported infections
are discovered through tests given dur
ing medical examinations.
Now that we need all our strength to
win this war, American labor should be
a leading force for a united attack on
all preventable diseases. The venereal
diseases are a major problem. They
should be the first to go. When enough
people do enough about it-they will
go. Wishing won't make it So"
Only the Beginning
With this article, this series is con-
cluded The American Social Hygiene
Association hopes that these articles will
not be an end, but beginning. II will
be pleased to cooperate to the fullest
extent with those seeking assistance on
further educational measures. 1t also
welcomes questions and recommended
tons from trade unions now active in
the fight against VD.