Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
By HoroId B. Rogers

By HoroId B. Rogers
Charging that nutrition work
throughout the Metropolitan Area
was almost negligible" the Council
of Social Agencies health and hos
pital survey today recommended
that bureaus of nutrition be estab-
lished in the health departments oil
the District, Maryland and Virginia
Pointing to results of nutrition as
applied to livestock, the report de-
clared: If we can do it for animals
we can do it with human beings
Only in the first year of life have we
demonstrated this with people
Those of our babies SO cared for have
shown gratifying results"
The report, issued by three sur
veyors for the Metropolitan Health
Council of the Council of Social
Agencies was based on studies made
by Mrs. Ruth White Fisher, an ex-
pert in the subject of nutrition.
None Now Employed.
At present, the survey report as
serts no nutritionists are employed
by the public health departments OF
any of the six jurisdictions in the
Metropolitan area
THE almost negligible work in
the Metropolitan Area in regard to
nutrition said the report has
been based upon the inadequate ap-
proach of employing individuals to
show poor families how to make the
most of incomes so low that health
could not be maintained. no matter
how effective the teaching.
This approach obviously Can
never make positive contribution
toward health in a community.
The newer concept of nutrition
in public health is positive one
it is to achieve optimum health fol
all our people throughout their life
spans. Optimum health influences
growth and development, appear
ance. behavior and resistance to
disease. We can attain the goals
only if we concentrate on a positive
approach and a planned program.
Several criticisms were leveled al
lack OF nutrition activity in the area
School Case Cited.
There is but one paid nutrition
list in the entire Metropolitan Area, .
said the report. The District of Co
lumbia Red Cross Chapter employees
this nutritionist who has been on
the staff since l94l During the war
go volunteer workers served in this
work.
The Board of Education of the
District of Columbia has no organ
ICED nutritional program, either sep
arately or as part of any health
program in the schools. Twenty les
sons in nutrition are required OF
students in the lob year in a health
course of study which is taught by
the department of home economics
The Board of Education assumes
no responsibility for its lunchroom
program other than to permit the
development of lunchroom where
it is at no cost either in supervision
or outlay to the department. Conse-
quently. there is no unified lunch
program in the school system.
Each principal determines tbs
policies and practices of the lunch
room in his particular building. The
managers are employed by the prin-
cipals. and responsible to them. The
agreement amounts to concession
and the profits accruing may be
used for other school purposes. OBJ
viously the standards of lunchrooms
vary
Lack Equipment, Staff.
IN elementary schools. the. report
t. said.se the Government -Suhsidizec
food program has made much oil
this work possible, but lack of equip
ment and staff seriously curtails the
program
There is no nutritionist nor home
economist In any public welfare de-
partment in the District or in any OF
the five adjacent areas, the report
charges, ito work either as an adj
wiser to the institutions or to the
staff of those who work with fam
lilies through the welfare depart.
ment. The only work that has
been done with these groups is BY
the District Red Cross service, either
directly by the nutritionist or by
volunteer workers under the direc'
ton of the nutritionist.'
I Reporting that a standard budget
guide was developed for the public
assistance division of the Depart.
ment of Public Welfare and was tt
be used as "a guide in granting aid
: the survey declared that at present
the actual grants are about 10 pei
cent of the standards set in this
budget"
There is no hospital in the whole
area" charged the report. which
has a dietitian available to tht
physicians who serve in the out.
patient clinics, except on request
of diet for particular patient
There is no attempt to offer a nu.
tritional service which could serve
constantly all who might need such
service
Comparable to Sanitation.
Suggesting nutrition program
throughout the area. the report, il
a discussion of the modern concept
of such program, declared, "Nu-
triton affects every one in the COM
munity all of the time. intimatel'
and vitality, and is therefore com
parable to sanitation. Like gooo
sanitation. it is dependent on boil
overall community responsibility
and a. way of life for each indi-
vidual. The problem is so large ant
so important that it can be met onll
by assumption of responsibility by
the official health agencies"
The obligations of health depart