1939 - Convention Report

              4G A L B E R T A WOMEN'S INSTITUTES
were entered into with three hospitals at the university centres where, by
annual grants for a ten year period were to be made in return for certain
accomodation and treatments, including the provision of adequate deep therapy
X- ray equipment for indigent cancer patients. These grants total $ 86,000 a
year. The intention is that the best facilities shall be available for the
treatment of cancer at as early a stage as possible whether or not the
patient is able to pay. Manitoba Government does not enter directly into
cancer treatment. The radium owned and distributed by the Manitoba
Research Institute, which is supported by donations from various organiza­tions.
The Government contributes $ 4,500 annually for this work. Saskat­chewan
Government purchased 1,670.6 milligrams of radium, 504 of which
are in use at the emanation plant at the university. The Government erected
this plant and they hold Cancer Clinics, but these are not free. British
Columbia has acquired $ 100,000 of radium and the Government endorsed the
note at the bank for this amount. The British Columbia Cancer Foundation
is at work on a plan of management and the mode of application of cancer
work. In comparison we have Alberta whose Government some years ago
purchased 30 milligrams of radium available at the University Hospital but
Government Cancer Clinics have not been established as yet. About 310
milligrams are privately owned throughout the Province.
Since this summary was made, at the last session of Parliament, the
Hospitals Act Amendment gives great consideration to expectant mothers
and in maternity cases, sufferers from early Cancer may be ordered to hos­pital
as a matter " of urgent necessity," for diagnosis and treatment at
municipal expense in the event of the patient's indigency.
Early in 1938 our Federated Convener of Child Welfare and Public
Health, Mrs. MacMillan of Prince Edward Island, proposed T H E R U R AL
HOME SANITATION P L A N , with its aim to improve Rural Sanitation. Our
Branches were asked to co- operate and many have done so in various ways.
They have had interesting and instructive papers, dealing with F l y Control,
Water Supply, Ventilation, etc. It is to be hoped that this important sub­ject
will continue to be studied and promoted.
Most Branches are doing some health educational work, having papers
on such subjects as Pre- Natal Care, Goitre, Cancer, the Teaching of Sex
Hygiene, First Aid and Home Nursing. Others held Baby Clinics, Dental
and Nursing Classes.
Drumheller W. I. continues their splendid Milk Campaign. They served
milk for six and a half winter months to 110 Public and Intermediate school
children. For six weeks they gave Halibutorange Capsules- Vitamin D, to
40 children. What a grand job they are doing. The work of Youngstown
W. I. is another spotlight. Through their efforts, Dr. Patton, of Cereal,
holds a clinic there every week and they now have a resident District Nurse,
whom they have esconced in a delightfully furnished cottage. Mirror W. I.
were responsible for an operation costing $ 80.00 on a small girl, who was
going blind. These are just a few of the numerous good deeds our women
are doing. There are hundreds of others. I have read all your reports care­fully
and noted all your efforts, and you must forgive me that there is not
more time to mention, individually, the work of all the Branches.
It is gratifying to note the results of the work for the Prevention of
Communicable Diseases and hundreds of children are now almost immune
to these contagious and infectious diseases. Rarely do we hear of wide-sweeping
epidemics any more. The Tuberculin Test is also being used in
parts of the Province and it is to be hoped that our Branches will co- operate
with Municipal Doctors and insist that the test be given to all children and
teachers in all our schools.