Evening star., 1945-07-10

Adequate care for wives and in
fants of servicemen is deemed
right by the Government-and in
March of 1943 the machinery to
guarantee that right began to turn.
The Emergency Maternity and In
fant Care program was born. Since
its beginning $4,000 wives and in
fants of servicemen have received
the care for which it provides. In
a nutshell, it guarantees, to serV-
icemen of the four lowest pay
grades. medical, nursing and hos
pital services for their wives and
infants. without cost to the men
or their wives. Included in this pay
grade category are aviation cadets
and students in training programs
who are classified in these pay
groups.
So completely does Uncle Sam
foot the bills that grateful service
men occasionally respond with IN
credulity. We heard of one Marine
whose wife received care under
this program, but who couldn't
quite believe that all Of his bills
connected with the birth OF his
baby would be covered by the Gov
ernment. Those bills, incidentally,
had mounted sky-high in the course
of the complications involved in
his wife's case. He stopped at the
EMIC office. Surely, he said, he
himself was responsible for the fee
for the consultant who had been
called in? They assured him That
he owed nothing, that every fee
was covered by the Government
that his wife and infant were as
much entitled to free medical care
as he was, while he was in the
service.
We can appreciate the service
mans point of view. Even though
the program has been defined, one
can't help feeling that surely some
of the cost must be borne by the
individual, that 'red tape" in the
form of part payment by the serv-
iceman, must rear its head some
where in the course of events. 1t
doesn't. Nor does the financial
status of the couple involved in
any way affect this aid. Those in
charge don't inquire as to the size
of ones bank roll; they aren't in
terested. There is no question OF
indigency involved. Also, payment
of any portion of the expenses by
the serviceman invaltdates the
agreement. Nor does, race or
length of residence in particular
locality bear any weight.
What are the specific benefits to
be secured through EMIC? 1t pro-
vides for wives: Maternity care
(medical, nursing and hospitaD
through pregnancy, at childbirth
and for six weeks thereafter. It
also provides hospital care for the
baby for two weeks after birth. In
case of COMPLICATIONS care OF the
mother is continued.
It provides for the baby: Medi-
cal, nursing and hospital care for
sick babies. including proper care
for an infant born prematurely,
correction Of physical handicaps
and various phases OF health super
vision for one year after the birth
Of the baby, This applies to all
infants of qualified servicemen un-
der / year of age. not only those
whose birth has been financed by
EMIC.
If necessary, special nurses and
cohsultants are called in. Any
number of necessary services will
be- given. Should housing Difficult
ties, accidents or other emergencies
arise while EMIC is involved in a
ease. other agencies that can be of
assistance viii be contacted. The
EMIC program itself is under the
direction of the Children's Bureau,
United States Department of La
boh, operating through the State