Evening star., 1946-09-04
For q Healthier City
For Healthier City
Southwest Area Figures Show
How Center Has Cut Disease
Seriesj
(Second OF a Series }
By Harry Lever

meet its postwar case-load, the
Health Department points to the
existing Southwest Health Center as
an example of the type of units that
contribute most to reducing disease
in any given area.
The Southwest Center, at Della
ware avenue and street S. W., cost
.s240.000 with equipment. 1t opened
in July, 1910, the first of the strate-
gically located centers advocated in
the Health Departments long-range
expansion program. The center now
serves a population estimated to be
approximately $4,000 persons. 41,00O
of whom are white and $4,000 COL
ored.
Health Department statistics for
1914, covering the area served by the
center, and the fifth year ON which
| figures are available, show that the
death rates for pneumonia, tuber-
culosis and infant mortality dropped
considerably as compared to 1910
the year the center was opened.
Areas Compared.
At the same time, according to the
Department, these same figures show
that lesser decreases and even in
creases in the death rate for these
diseases have been registered in the
Central Northwest area, where there
is no health center, and where Off
cials contend one is urgently needed
In 1910, when the Southwest popu-
lation was 54,820, there were 7e
deaths from tuberculosis, or 1885
per 100000 unit of population. In
1914, when the population had risen
to 1886, there were 81 deaths from
the disease, or lib per 100000, a
decrease of 20 per cent.
In the Central Northwest area ir
1910, when the population there
was 175,465, tuberculosis caused 23e
deaths, or 1345 per 100000 units OF
population. In 1914, when 215, ,42f
persons resided in the Central
Northwest, there were 249 deaths
from the disease, or 1856 per 100,-
900 unit of population, a decrease
of only IA per cent.
Pneumonia Incidence.
AS to pneumonia, the Southwest
showed another decrease over the
Central Northwest area. In 194O
there were 81 deaths from pneu-
monia in the Southwest, or 98.5
per 100000 unit of population, as
against 80 deaths, or SAT per loo, ,000
in 1914, for a gratifying decrease
of 45 per cent.
The Central Northwest area
could only register a decrease OF
81 per cent for the same disease
with 143 deaths in 1910, or 81.5 per
100000 unit of population, as against
110 deaths in 1914. or Sill per
100000.
In addition, the Southwest had
substantial edge over the North
west Central section in reducing
infant mortality. There were II
deaths in the Southwest during
1910, or 63.2 per 1000 live births
as against II in 1914, or 537 per
1000 live births, for decrease OF
Is per cent.
Meanwhile, in the Central North
west. ITO deaths, or 6l.8 per l,00C
live births, were registered in 1910
and 215 deaths, or 693 per 1000 live
births occurred in 1914, for an in
crease of IL per cent.
Access to Clinics.
In instances where health has
improved in the Central Northwest
area, the Health Department
pointed out that residents there
while having no health center, have
access to the AZ general ano
specialized clinics throughout the
city.
In stressing the value of such
facilities as the Southwest Health
Center. officials gave, this break
down of last years statistics COW
ering the Southwest centers foul
main services:
Over $500 visits for treatment ol
tuberculosis or examination for thi.
disease: 8,747 visits in connection
with maternal and child welfare
cases, and 81 1893 visits, or 49.4 pc
cent of all the center's visits, fo
treatment or examination of vene
real disease.
Since only 161 venereal deaths oc
CURED in the entire city in 1945 ant
many of these involved already crit
ical out town military and nava
cases admitted to st. Elizabeth
Hospital, officials point out that tn,
Southwest Center has definitel,
proven, in respect to venereal dis
ease, the value of preventive treat
ment as meted out in a health center
Venereal Disease Survey.
The center's facilities for treat
ment of venereal disease augmen
eight venereal disease clinics cur
renty operated as out-patient serv
ices Of District hospitals, A recen
health survey, conducted here b,
out-of-town experts, made a recon-
rnendation which the SouthWes
Center is now aiding to carry out
that these eight clinics be aide,
in av0ru uyoxrD