Atlanta Daily World

WELL BABY HELPS WELL - Claude Thomas, Jr., feels secure in the arms of his mother, Mrs. Henrietta Thomas, 505 Highland Avenue, as Dr. H. E. Nash, clinic physician and Mrs. Frances Belcher, Public Health Nurse, go through a routine examination at the Well Baby Clinic, connected with the Elizabeth Burch Day Nursery of 166 Fort Street, N. E. This is only one of the many phases of public health nursing in Atlanta and Fulton County where there are 114 nurses operating in 43 clinics. April 20-26 has been proclaimed Public Health Nursing week in observance of 70 years of service. -(Staff Photo by W. A. Scott, III)

Atlanta Joins Nation In Public Health Salute

Atlanta joins with the nation today in saluting the field of Public Health Nursing, seventy years old in America. The week April 20-26 has been proclaimed Public Health Nursing Week, during which time all citizens should become more cognizant of the splendid services offered by these "angels of mercy."

Through their constant vigilance and faithful service, in cooperation with social agencies and members of the medical profession, communicable diseases have almost become minor. Immunization against these diseases has been enforced with the ruling that all children must have adequate and thorough protection before entering school at the age of six.

The Well Baby Clinic at the Elizabeth Church Day Nursery, 166 Fort Street, N.E., is only one of three such clinics operated primarily for Negroes in the city. Organized more than twenty years ago, when the Gate City Day Nursery Association operated the Burch branch on Courtland Street, the tremendous increase in services offered, modernized and enlarged quarters were made possible by the close cooperation of the Atlanta Urban League, co-founder of the clinic, and the City Health Department which fur
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nishes the clinical personnel and a large amount of the medical supplies used.

Although this clinic is mainly used by residents of the Northeast section of the city, it is open to any child-from birth to six years of age. It is the largest of its kind for Negroes in the city. and has served as many as 200 children within a month's period, operating on a twice weekly schedule with hours from 2-4, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Similar clinics are held at the University and Eagan Homes housing projects. No treatment is given at these clinics but referrals are made to the private physicians, Grady Hospital and the Catholic Clinic.

PARENTS PRAISED

Dr. H. E. Nash, clinic physician, was loud in his praise of the parents with whose cooperation. he said, efforts at the clinic were made more effective. He cited instances where parents, during inclement weather, had hired taxicabs to bring their children to the clinic, so as not to interfere with the immunization schedules, and showed the type of certificates issued to the parents upon completion of the child's protection through immunization and vaccination.

Mrs. Frances Belcher, beloved nurse at the clinic, is only one of the 114 public health nurses working at 43 clinics in Atlanta and Fulton County. Approximately one-half of these nurses are Negroes