Course 154

4, Rural Health Departments. The weakest link in our health chain. The
reasons for this are the nature of our rural social and political organ-
ization; the size of the allotmentto health; and the administrative
difficulties.

 

a. Survey of Field. Virtually all the rural health work now being done
is the result of the co-operative efforts of local and state depart-
ments of health with the U.S. Public Health Service and the Inter-
national Health Board (Rockefeller Foundation)

 

Only 19% in 1928 of rural population had local health service under
the direction of a full time health officer.

b. Rural Sanitation Service of U.S. Public Health Service. Created by
Acts of 1893 and 1912,

(1) Objectives
(a) Improvement in sanitary devices
(b) Co-operation with local health departments financially
and functionally.
(2) Methods

(a) Small subsidies
(b) Demonstrations (Cape Cod District)

(3) Extent. 109 counties in 17 States. Such service needed for 60%
of population. At present it is available for only 19%,

(4) Cost (1928)

Federal funds $77,628.01
State and local

funds 948,838.24
Private organ- 91,489.53
izations
Total $1,117,955.78

References: Public Health Reports - Nov. 30, 1928
(Document Room and Magazine Room)
Contains excellent accounts of work of San Joaquin Health
District,

¢. International Health Board is one of the subsidiaries of the
Rockefeller Foundation. One of the important activities has been
their co-operation with federal and local health officials in pro-
moting rural public health.

 

(1) Method. Through a co-operative agreement with State and Local
government the I.H. Board gives financial support to local
health projects until they have proven their worth and are
taken over by the people.

d. North Carolina County Health Work. Dr. Watson Rankin, State Health Of-
ficer of North Carolina, has been one of the outstanding leaders in
the rural health field.

(Reference: North Carolina Health Bulletin, Jan. 1920)