Evening star., 1948-09-21

Ruhland declared the Health De.
partment does ont have sufficient
nursing personnel available to give
adequate service to school children
t Although only 13 nurses are
sought in the 1850 estimates, DR.
Rhuland said, 1t Is well known te
authorities that one nurse Is re-
quired for every 1900 school chill.
dren. With 10000 children ex.
pected to attend school here in the
school year 1S49-50, he added, 1t /.
plain that "A additional nurses are
needed, because only 81 are avail.
able now.
More nurses will be sought in fu.
ture years, he said.
DR.. Rutland asked $4,000 to re.
pair and paint the interior of the
Polk Health Center. Seventh ane
P streets NV, which he said Is ir
"deplorable" condition. Unpaintee
for six years, the center is a dis.
grace" Dr.. Rutland declared, be.
cause 1t gathers germs and dust.
He pointed out that the old build.
ing handles six distinct health serv.
ices-clinics for mental hygiene, tu.
berculosis, venereal disease and foot
handlers, a nursing office and thu
Public Health engineering Office.
Two $3.50 Posts.
An important expense in the bud
get estimate is that for the 36 new
employees for whom DR.. Ruhlanc
asked funds. The department viii
lose seven employees in the next
fiscal year Among the new jobs hi
seeks are two $3.50 posts for the
proposed directors Of General Med.
ical Care and Medical Inspection oil
Schools Divisions.
The increase of 1908 1921 in Public
Health funds requested is made ur
principally of $136,498, which DR.
Ruhland said is required for nee.
essary increases in services and $5l,.
566 for within-grade salary raises.
DR.. Rutland said the increases ir
service call for more nurses, medica
inspectors and dentists for schoo
children. He recalled that during
the fall of 1947, the Commissioner
and the Health Department were
criticized because of inadequate
health service in the schools.
He said the Board Of Education
requested an increase in medica.
services, and the Health Depart.
ment is bringing the matter to the
Commissioners "for such action al
they may wish to take"
Dr. Rutland, in the message &C.
companying the Health Department
budget estimates, told the Commis.
SlOners:
These estimates have been kept
at very restricted level in &C.
cordance with instructions issued
by the budget officer. It is hoped
that the restrictions expressed ir
those instructions, resulting from
lack Of funds, will apply for only
a temporary time.
Such a policy, if followed fol
any length of time, especially in
view of the increase in population
estimated on July !, 1948, will result
in poorer health for the community
and greater loss of life"
DR.. Rutland estimated $6l3,739
in Federal Security Administration
funds would be available for District
use In fiscal 1850. OF this fund, the
Public Health Service would furnish
$500, ,78l, while the Children's Bureau
would provide the remaining 1892 95S.
DR.. Rutland said the Districts S
limited funds make it seem more
feasible at this time to forgo the
diagnostic and treatment clinic in
the Cancer Control Bureau to con-
centrate on a cancer register that
will coordinate all cancer activities
in Washington. Both clinics would
be discontinued.
More Clerks Asked.