Milford chronicle., 1954-06-25
TO PARENTS
by Dr. Murihu N. Eliot
Chief. childran,s Rurenn


More than 1000 years ago, a wise
Greek historian said, History re-
peats itself"
What is happening in Ell Saliva
dor, one of our neighbors to the
south, seems to indicate the truth
of that prOveTb.
Milk is making a major differ
ence in child rearing in that coun-
try, just as it did in ours.
Sixty years ago, when safe milk
was hard to get, high proportion
OF babies in our country sickened
and died during their first year of
life. Somebody in New York had
bright idea of setting up a depot
where mothers could get pasteur-
lied milk. This proved highly sue
cessful in protecting babies from
some of the diseases carried by
raw milk.
Out of this idea grew our mod
ern-day we'll baby clinics. Because
safe milk is easy to come by in our
cities, these clinics no longer are
milk depOts. They have grown into
places where mothers can bring
their babies for examination by a
doctor and get advice on how to
keep them well.
In Ell Salvador. the milk that
the United Nations International
Children's Emergency Fund (UNI-
CEF) brought to that country has
had a far-reaching influence, too.
on the health of the cOuntry's chill
dren, as well as on the economy
of the country.
For generations, most children
in this small Central American re-
public have suffered from malnu-
triton.
The Government, aware Of this,
asked UNICEF to supply dried
skim milk for a major feeding
demonstration.
The first milk arrived in April
1850. Within 2 months, $4,000 chill
dren were happily drinking it. and
teachers began reporting that
their Once-apathetic pupils were
wide awake and learned much
more quickly.
Parents and teachers, aroused TO
the effects of nutrition, demanded
to know more. Mayors of eommuni-
ties, not participating in the dem
Onstration, clamored to get UNICEF
milk.
In the entire country there had
been just two clinics for infant nu-
triton. By June 1850, IA commune
ty clinics were operating, and 26
more preparing to open.
Farmers saw the growing inter-
est in milk, and wondered if thew
couldn't expand, too.
The Director General of Public
Health for El Salvador, said: "The
wide interest UNICEF milk aroused
enabled us greatly to broaden our
education system, our public health
programs, and our nutrition edu-
cation"
In the Is months after April
1860, El Salvador spent S277 '0O0
in municipal and private funds for
these programs. UNICIaF spent only
about one-ffth Of the amount, some
$4,000 At present the UNICEF
aided child nutrition program is
operating through S68 distribution
centers. From 1850 to 1853, IN 10
10000 children had received UNI
CEF milk.
Through March, 1854, approved
UNICEF aid for this program
amounted to S96,10O. During this
same period related local expendi-
lures totalled approximately ST.
100000.
The study eliminated in a formal
request TO UNICEF for assistance
In establishing a milk pastenriza-
tion and drying plant. Three. al
ready, have been established.
The fact that the emergency nro-
grams have developed into hard
headed business endeavors-as we'll
as into primary health services
indicates, / think. that comnara-
lively small contributions az smcb
q thing as milk, where it is neeSad
may amazingly quickly. affect
great number Of people to the no,nt
where philanthropy is no Ionesr ss
the essential. Assl