HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE'
( • .: £ r ' # r* I 1
The annuaI report of,the Alaska Tuberculosis.Association, given by
Mrs. Peas* A. Winn, executive secretary of the. organization, is now being
distributed throughout., the territory. In that report a. break-down
account of receipts and disbursements for the past fiscal year is given,
the work of the past year-13 briefly discussed and plans for the.coming
year are presented,, Featuring future activities will be the coopera'tion
between the Association., tho Territorial Department Of Health and tb*
Office of «ative Aff&lrs. “When there 14 full coordination between tie
'agencies,“ explained Dr. C, Earl Albrecht, Commissioner of Health,“tin n
plans beneficial to tho whole of the Territory cun be carried out with
a minimum of effort,"
b agreement was drawn.up between the Association and tho department of
onlth in which the sum of $11,635.00 was contributed to the Department,
che sum tentatively earmarked bv the executive Board of the Association
for various projects, This fund will enable the Health Deportm nt to
secure additional Federal funds, since the Federal government has avail
able for allotment to the,Territory a sum equal to the amount- ‘expended
by the Department,.Sf_Health for tuberculosis control vork. Unl ss the
projects'outiined"by the board prove impractical or tors difficult of
attainment, they will bo carried . out. It Is realized; however, that as
the program progresses, better ideas for growth may unfold. Coon?rating
in the work Mil be Dr. d. W, Norris, district Medical Director of U.S.
Public Health and Medical Director for the Indian •lorvico,
dast year the sum of $5*410,00 was donated by the Association to
the department for an X-ray program, the main portion being allocated
for the X-ray of High School students. Due to the lack of personnel and
film, the program was not completed. Because of the scarcity of film,.
"Alaska’s share cannot now be allotted for the X-ray of specific groups,
such as students, but must be spread throughout the Territory gnd used
for the re-exanination o^ contacts and for the follov/**up of reputed
_cases0 The $4500.00 regaining will be used for the X-rays of medically
"Indigent persons falling Within these classifications and' what is lei b
retained for future X-ray-programs.
Lest year the Association paid rehabilitation expenses for Alask- i
patients • in Washington oanatoriums, and it will, conti nuqv‘this work, ’
There are 25 patients in Riverton and Laurel. Beach spnatoriums, both
located near Seattle. Subjects ranging from High’Ochool studies to
technical-courses are taught by a full-time teacher. An occupational
herapist; .instructs in woodcarving, sewing, leather work, shoen: king and
- -her activities. The Association also contributed to the central
Lbrnry. ...
This year $500Q,00 of the contribution to the fctepartment was set
aside for the rehabilitation of tuberculous patients in ^lnska. A start
has beert made on this program and if feasible, it may be .that in time a
rehabilitation director may be employed, in which case, the program can
be broadened. Other proposed projects include X-ray equipment located
strategically in the Territory and such morale-builders as a radio and
loud speaker plus a movie'projector and screen for the Gkngway Sanatorium.
Another,item is the contribution of $3000.00 for the crippled
children's program. Dr. Berneta M. Block, head of the- Crippled
Children's program, inSertihg'a few paragraphs into the report, tells
of the grc-at need for aid in the work, «
_ r '
•One of'last1year*s.activities, soon to be completed is the takin^
of kedarhrome slides’:that relate a story showing the detftils of the
home -nursing of tuberculous patients. As soon as ’the, copies are made
these ; will, he. r**ady f Or .distribution around ‘he Territory. Native
people posed for the slides. t • “ . . .
From donations made to the Health Department■ prior to FL943, the
'cum of $3,203.55 remained.? Approximately $50.00 of this amount went lor
'he training of a bacteriologist in X-ray technique, person? trained ti
, \h<=> taking.of X-rays being otherwise impossible to obtain; and .the
■"emaindcr paid -reconversion expenses ./attendant upon the installation of
X-ray machinery on the H.G.HYGEGE, health boat giving service throughout
^utfreast.ern Alaska. ■ ... . _ .
CONT. on PP. 14