The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-02-20
R REHABILITATION E H
 EA5 TB AID iS URGED |AT MEETING MONDAY

II the meeting O1 the AlaSKa lu- berculosis Association Monday night in the Baranof Gold Room had a theme. it was R Rehabilitation" :"
 Rehabilitation was stressed by Mrs. Frances L. Paul, executive secretary of the Alaska TIE Associ- ation, by the speakers, Dr. c. Earl Alhrecht, Dr. Duncan Chalmers and Dr. Francis J. Phillips. And a story of rehabilitation was told by the film made by the Office of Re- mobilization of West Virginia, that was shown after the meeting.
 Dr. Albrecht, Territorial Con- missioner of Health, expressed to the group of Association members and directors present, his appreci- ation of the work accomplished by the Alaska Tuberculosis Association in dealing with the major tuber- culosis problems in the Territory.
 First among the aids provided by the voluntary agency, is education, Dr. Albrecht said for it is easier for a voluntary organization to disseminate educational material for the good of the people than it is for an official organization"
 Rehabilitation Important
 Next, he said, rehabilitation is an important function of the AL aska Tuberculosis Association.
 "Over 500 patients in sanitoriums in Alaska will eventually be home, their disease arrested. With rehab- ilitation, they know they can be self sustaining productive citizens"
 Demonstration programs, provi- ded through the cooperation Of the Alaska Tuberculosis Association and the Territorial Department of Health include chest x-ray cam- paigns ,which provided the neces- sary statistics to secure funds for building the sanitoriums at Mt. Edgecumbe eandSeWard; case regis ter, which lists names of over 5,0O0 TB cases in the Territory; rallying support for TIE legislation in 1. the Territory and Hast but not least, the volunteer services that mem bers of the TIE Association are giv- ing in the sanitoriums at Mt. Edge cumbe and Seward" Dr. Albrecht said.
 Purchases of streptomycin and a program of occupational therapy, sponsored by the Alaska Tubercul- osis Association are also valuable in the treatment of "Alaska's most serious disease" pr. Albrecht said. Led by the able enthusiasm of Mrs. Paul the Association has grown and progress is being made, but the fight is not yet won.'
 Dr. Chalmers Speaks
 Dr. Chalmers, medical director for the Alaska Native Service, stressed the need for rehabilitation among quiescent patients.
 With improved personal hygiene, sanitation and health measures, the quiescent patient can be re- leased and become an active mem Der of the community" Dr. Chal- mers said.
 Funds should be set aside for vocational rehabilitation of quies- cent patients. This could be more important than money for more beds. It would provide a greater turnover of patients. A patients goal would no longer be to continue occupying a bed in hospital, but to learn to care for himself when he is released from the hospital. Dr. Chalmers said.
 New Techniques Told
 Dr. Phillips, medical director and thoracic surgeon at Seward Sanitorium. compared the treat ment of tuberculosis now and 20 years ago, and told of new surgical techniques, the use of streptomycin, | and better anaesthesia. the fine