300,000 Children Throughout Israel Will Undergo Examinations for Tuberculosis

A total of 300,000 children throughout the country, between the ages of one and 18 years, will undergo an examination for tuberculosis in a six-months’ project starting next month organized by the International Tuberculosis Campaign and the Israel Health Ministry, it was announced today.

Dr. Knud Winge, director of Copenhagen’s Central Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary, who is now in Israel to help launch the drive, said that the rate of the disease dropped 70 to 80 percent among persons innoculated with the special “BCG” serum developed in Scandinavian countries. Dr. Ben Zion Pinkenson has been appointed by the Israel Health Ministry to head the campaign. He said that the government has earmarked about $70,000 for the cost of innoculations.

Kay Simenson, general secretary of the Danish Red Cross, arrived here today accompanied by members of a special mission from the Copenhagen Government and representatives of the United Nations International Emergency Children’s Fund to discuss with Israel officials the best way to assist Jewish children here. The Danish Government has consented to contribute a half million kronen (approximately $70,000) to the United Jewish Appeal of Denmark provided another 500,000 Kronen is donated by the public. Of this sum, Danish Jews expect to collect 250,000 kronen among their own people.

A group of 147 Arab children, accompanied by seven Arab adult attendants, crossed today from Lebanon to Israel, through the Ras el Naqura frontier post. The party included orphans and children of Arab families residing in Israel. The orphans will be cared for by religious institutions in Nazareth and the others will be returned to their homes. Archbishop George Hakim and representatives of the Christian community, the Red Cross and the Israel Immigration Ministry welcomed the children.