The Omaha guide., 1945-10-27

Government received a report from
the Hebron Hospital that six in
fants from tn Refugee Camp had
been sent in dying of hunger with
in a week" she reports. 'They sent
me here with a elgian nurse to see
what is was all about and to do
whatver was needed"
Highlights of the shocking con-
ditions encountered and described
by DR.. Lealtad included: i've thous-
and people crowded in barracks
built to house from 1000 to $500
soldiers; 412 children, with no med
needs; unsterilized milk with re-
sulting severe digestive disorders,
children dirty and ridden with all
n of skin DISEASES such as i'm
petigo and scabies; no clinic serv-
ice.
Plunging into this situation, DR..
Lealtad accomplished virtual mir
acles in no time. 81 didn't know
where to begin first" she confesses,
but after working like an idiot for
3 weeks we have a morning clinic
ell for school children with an
Hungarian refugee doctor. a sick
bay from hip. a baby clinic and
toddler's clinic in the afternoon
with a woma doctor. / set up a
1O-crib ward for infants under 9
years for mild illness-serious cas-
es go to Hebron Hospital. a feed
ing center for SO babies with an
E%sthonian refugee nurse who pre-
pares the bottles. 1 got the camp
carpenters to make low tables and
benches and now over 100 toddlers
have a supervised feeding centr.
I'm tn first six days, during out
inc school examinations. we evacu-
ated six children with active T. b.
and last week II more cases"
~rther recounting her activities
and observations. DR.. Lealtad writ
es: There is a small camp of 500
ESthonians where there are 81
children. 1 went in to check them
sen II suspects to X-ray and 8
were h~ospitalized as active T.. B.
cases.
The T. B. rate among refugee
children is tragic. Yesterday l was
at headquarters at Karlsruhe and
the director wants us to go to a
nearby camp of Poles where. among
500 children, they have just begun
an X-ray check up-75 active cas-
es and still 200 suspects to be X
rayed. They seem to have decided
after what I did here at Weinberg
camp to camp to set up a child
ren's medical service"
Lacking many items of equip
ment, supply and medical assist
ance, DR.. Lealtad's work vas be-
set with all sorts OF difficulties.
Its no bed Of roses, she writes.
You have to plan and arrange the
work without any of the fancy CAD
gets that we take for granted but
you find its worth the effort"
The displaced persons with whom
DR.. Lealtad is working are among
the wars most tragic victims
Slave laborers impressed by the
Nazis; political, religious and rae
ial refugees; victims of military on
slaught, they hail from every corn
er Of Europe. Since We Day. UN-
IRA, working with the military,
has helped repatriate more than
five million displaced persons in the
Allied zone Of military occupation.
The remaining million. represent
ing the Stateless and non-repatr-
tables. are being cared for by UN-
IRA until the Allied powers make
some plans for their permanent dis
position.
Before going overseas for M
RIA, DR.. Lealtad was prominent !,
New York City medical circles ano
had extensive experience in clini'
work. She received her medica-
ducation in France and has a flu
ent command of french as well a.
a knowledge of European custoni
which are both proving highly use
full in her work.