Historical March 1977 health column discussing the City’s December 31, 1976 report. Statistics, testing recommendations and service decisions describe the original period, not current medical advice.
The City Health Department, in its Weekly Health Letter of December 31, 1976, released some interesting information under the title “The Health Year in Review”, information which bears upon the Clinic’s activities as well as upon the people we are trying to serve.
They note that tuberculosis is still a major health problem within the city, with 100 tuberculosis cases and 104 contacts to newly reported cases, and 360 other high risk individuals under care. Sometimes it seems as if the Clinic is in the tuberculosis skin test business – so many schools and employers require an annual test. However, many people do not return to have their tests read. It is important to realize that this is not an IMMUNIZATION, but a TEST, to see if the person has been exposed to tuberculosis. Thus, if you are concerned about tuberculosis, or are required to have the test, it is important that you return to have the test read, or arrange to have it read by another agency, such as a student health service, etc. Otherwise: a “mosquito bite” for nothing!
On the immunization level of our kids: approximately 96% of all school-age children are immunized against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio and measles-rubella. But, when we talk of pre-school children, about one out of four is NOT immunized against diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough or polio, although they do a little better (about one in six) for measles-rubella. Our daytime immunization clinic is so little used that we are considering whether or not we should close it — but we are sure the kids are out there, needing the immunizations!
As to the general causes of death, chronic diseases led the rest, as a group, reflecting the fact that fewer people die of the infectious. diseases, and our population is getting older and more susceptible to chronic diseases. But the real shocker in the list is that HOMICIDE is the No. 4 cause of death in the city! If anything can bring home the idea that health care involves more than just having enough health professionals — doctors, nurses and all the rest — but involves having a healthy social order as well, this statistic should do it. The cause of illness and the causes of crime are too often related, based on the same social factors, and they can not be helped in isolation.
The People’s Clinic owes a lot to the City Health Department: they provide us with vaccines, certain lab work, and reliable information. They do a tremendous job, on a budget that is extremely limited for the services they are supposed to provide. They, like the Clinic, face many obstacles in the battle to provide preventive health services in a world that is oriented to sick care!
Originally published in The Paper, March 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1977_03.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
