The Omaha guide., 1946-03-30
Natl Negro Health Week

The first postwar National Negro Health Week observ-
ance finds a nation eager for what President Truman terms
@heaIth security for all, regardless of residence, cation, or
race-everywhere in the United States"
National Negro Health Week stresses the great need and
opportunity for the average Negro family to improve their
home and share health benefits in the communiy.
The late Booker I. Washington, eminent Negro leader,
founded National Negro Health Week in 1915. Following
the death Of DIR. Washington, the observance wa, sponsor
ed by Tuskegee Institute and by Howard University. The
u. 5. Public Health service has carried on National Negro
Health Week since 1882 as a phase of the yearround
health program.
Although Negroes have shared generally in the Nations
health progress during the past 35 years, they nave not
shared in proportion TO their needs. Negroes constitute
10 percent of our population, but they bear from three to
six times their proportional burden of ill health and pre-
mature death-
In every thousand Negro births, one and three quarters
times as many babies die before they are a year old as in
white births. Negro mothers die in childbirth at twice the
rate among white women.
Many of the chronic diseases which disable and kill
strike Negroes far more frequently than their white neigh
bors. These inequalities are unnecessary. Public health,
and medicine have found the knowledge and skiIs with
which to make the Negroes load of sickness and death as
Iight as the white mans today. More than that, the means
r available nov to reduce death and illness i'm all races to
still lower levels than are experienced at present by the
most favored groups.
1t is significant that the theme for this years observance
of National Negro Health Week is "a healthy home in a
healthy community" Plans Tor better homes and COM
munity improvement should highIight proper housing for
she Negro families.
The constant need for the security and enjoyment of the
home is health. The healthy breadwinner is a better pro-
wider. Health conserves the family earnings and sickness
drains the family budget. And SO it is also IrGo of the
community in which the healthy homes are located. Com
munity health is economical as it protects and promotes the
welfare Of the people. Home and community are equal
partners in the business of keeping the American. people
healthy.
The Surgeon General of the United States Public Health
Service, DIR. Thomas Parran, has pointed out that among
the major requirements throughout the country are better
facilities and more trained personnel. This means, he
said, in order TO assure equal opportunity for heath in all
parts of the country, we shall have to: Construc: more hos
pitfalls and health centers and equip them with mocern med
ical tools; train more physicians, dentists, nurses, engineers
health educators and other professional people; establish
more public health departments and gear up all services to
make use of the newer knowledge in prevention and cure.
In no part Of the United States, the Surgeon General has
pointed out, have health and medical services reached the
point where all services meet all needs. 1t is 7afe to say,
however, that in all parts of the country, services for the
Negro fall farther short of the mark than do those for
must take account of this fact wherever Negroes form a
significant proportion of the population.
Any movement to stimulate better health amo:y Negroes
is seeking an adequate health and medical care program for
drains upon the Nations resources and upon individual
health and progress. Thus, as President Truma: 8 APPLY
stated, "OW new economic bill of rights should NEAR
health security for all, regardless of residence, station or
race-everywhere in the United States.'