Evening star., 1946-09-05
For q Healthier City
Department Appeals for Funds
To Construct Five New Centers
last OF a Series.)
By Harry Lever

The Health Department today
asks that funds be rushed to con-
fstruct five projected health centers
similar to the Southwest Health
Center on the basis of figures show
ing reduction in disease rates since
establishment of the Southwest
center.
Part Of the money to construct
second center on or near the site
of the Polk School Clinic at Sew
enth and P streets NV, has been
appropriated and that building will
be started as soon as materials be-
come available
No funds have been appropriated,
however, for either finishing this
building or for the other four struc-
lures. Tentative plans call for their
location at or near Benning road
and Minnesota avenue NE, v
street between Thirteenth and Four
teenth streets Sc, Fifteenth street
and Biadensburg road NE, and on
a yet llnspecified site east of lower
Georgetown. All these sites are
convenient to transportation and
near schools, both desirable factors.
Ofhcials hope the projects will be
financed either through forthcom-
ing District appropriations or with
funds from the National Hospital
G Construction Act. This act author
lied $75 100000 worth of hospital
and health center construction
throughout the Nation each year for
five years, and $4,000, 900 for Ma
tion-wide hospital surveys and plan
ming.
Federal Grants Allotted.
Under the act, the District has
already been allotted Federal grants
of $298, $50 for construction of hos
pitals and health centers. and $19,-
145 for survey of such needs. The
District must match these grants
in the proportion of 50 to 81. In
announcing the grants recently, the
Public Health Service of the Federal
Security Agency said the figures
represented preliminary estimates ~
AS yet, District officials have not de-
cided definitely how they will use
these funds.
In a recent memorandum to Dis
trict Commissioner Guy Mason, DR..
George C. Rutland, District Health
Omcer, declared that the center
contemplated on or near the Polk
School site, which would serve the
Central Northwest area, is consid-
cred the most important for the
city's needs.
The area contains 26.5 per cent
Of the city's population, or more
than 250,000 persons, 45.2 per cent
OF whom are white and 54.8 per cent
colored. A high concentration of
minors, 24.3 per cent of all the city's
children under five years of age,
and 25.4 per cent of the city's total
school attendance, is also found in
this area.
Fatality Rates Compared.
In 1914, the tuberculosis fatality
rate in this area was 1855 per 100,-
600 OF population, whereas in the
Southwest it was 111.3, and In the
city as whole only 66.2 per 1O0, 900.
One census area at the front door
Of the proposed Central Northwest
Center, has a current tuberculosis
death rate of 1852 per 100000.
pneumonia and the communicable
diseases also show correspondingly
high mortality and sickness rates
In the section.
In addition, 34.5 per cent of all
syphilis deaths throughout the city
and 22.0 per cent of all influenza
fatalities occurred in the Central
Northwest in 1914. In 1941, 1926
per cent of still-birth deaths and
SIG per cent of all the city's deaths
involving infants under one year of
age occurred in the section. The
Polk School Clinic, as now set up,
has been unable to cope with the
tremendous preventive task await
ing the proposed center, according
to officials who deplored the area S
disproportionately high admission
rate to Gallinger Municipal Hospi-
tai.
In 1912, Congress appropriated
$120, 900 to begin construction of the
Central Northwest Health Center,
Of which $108, 900 now remains avail
able for construction following ex-
penditures for plans and preliminary
surveys. Because of the war, the
higher cost Of materials and an
increase of more than 1000 square
feet of floor space to plans for the
building, the project has been
delayed. It is now estimated that
it may cost $500,000 to complete,
providing priorities for materials are
expedited
Need Shown In Figures.
AS to the proposed centers near
Benning road and Minnesota avenue
NE, and on v street between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth streets Sc,
the Health Department has statistics
to prove their prompt construction
would be Of material benefit to the
community.
The areas to be served have a
total population Of almost las, 1000