The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1947-03-22
l947 National Negro Health
Week to be Observed Beginning
March 30, Through April s
Theme COMMUNICATIVE
Cooperation for Better
Health, Sanitation

founded IN 1913 by Booker t. ash
ington, prominent Negro educator
and leader, in order to stress the
health needs of his race and to en-
courage the Negro to take advan-
tage of existing health facilities in
his community.
After his death the Health Week
movement was carried on at Tuske-
gee Institute and Howard Univer-
sity Since 1882, however, Health
Week has been a part of a year.
round program of the United States
Public Health Service National
Chairman is DR.. Roscoe c. Brown,
Chief of the Office of Negro Health
Work of the Public Health Service
In 1916, 10000 communities in SO
States participated in a National
Negro Health Week that stressed
"a healthy home in healthy COM
munity." The emphasis this year
is on the responsibility the citi-
zens and local agencies and organiz-
ations in making a better and
healthier community.
Status of Negro Health
The Negro has shared in the Ma
tons health progress. Both color
ed and white mortality rates have
declined In 1910 the colored rates
for deaths from all causes were APP
proximately so percent higher than
white rates, while in 1914, they
were less than SO 1-3 percent high
er. On the whole the present rate
of decline of Negro mortality is
encouraging, particularly at ages
under Is years.
However, the Negro still suffers
more than his due share of i'll health
and premature death. The Negroes
health status, broadly speaking, is
at the level attained by the white
race generation ago. For instan-
ce, one and two-thirds more Negro
babies die in the dangerous first
year of life than do white infants.
Twice as many Negro mothers die
of childbirth as do white mothers.
Despite the mortality reduction in
tuberculosis and syphilis from
2058 and SIS per 100000 respective
ly in 1880 to 1862 and 1916 in 1914,
the Negro rate for tuberculosis still
is more than three times that of
the white and the Negro rate for
syphilis is more han five times that
of the white rate.
These inequalities are due to
many causes. A large number of
Negroes live in poor, rural areas
that cannot, independently, sup
port medical personnel and facili-
ties in proper quality and quantity.
An even greater number are mass
ed in cities Both groups are fair
prey for diseases in which poor per-
sonal hygiene. bad housing, insani-
tary environment, and malnutrition
arepredisposing factors.
vitality important has been the
lack of health education among
Negroes. Many do not know what
is available to them. They do not
know what to do in case of illness
whom to Sc or where to go Health
facilities and services have been
long delayed and. in some places,
denied them. Adequate school IA
cilities and proper instruction are
lacking also.
Purpose OF This Years Nation
al Negro Health Week
The celebration of National Ne
gro Health Week this year will
stress 'community-w cooper
alton for better health and SAINT
alton In many communities .vo-
luntary, local, State and Federal
facilities and programs often re-
main independent of each other in
spite of the fact that all are work
ing for the same goal.
Such plan of action would not
only insure the success of the
Health Week but even more i'm
portant would also form a firm
basis for the activities of permanent
organizations in the fields of health
and medical care.