THE WORLD OSE UNION, FACED WITH “THREATENING SYMPTOMS OF DECLINE OF THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE BULK OF THE JEWISH POPULATION IN EASTERN EUROPE, ” WILL REVIEW ITS 25-YEAR STRUGGLE FOR JEWISH HEALTH AT A SPECIAL CONFERENCE WHICH WILL OPEN HERE AUG. 28.
THE UNION, OF WHICH PROF. ALBERT EINSTEIN IS HONORARY PRESIDENT, PLAYS A LEADING PART IN HEALTH WELFARE WORK AMONG THE JEWS OF EASTERN EUROPE, MAINTAINING CLINICS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDING FOOD RELIEF AND PLANNING HEALTH EDUCATION. ITS CHIEF AFFILIATE IS THE TOZ IN POLAND.
“FURTHER PHYSICAL DETERIORATION AND REDUCED RESISTANCE AGAINST DISEASE” AMONG JEWS IN EASTERN EUROPE AS A RESULT OF UNEMPLOYMENT, PRIVATION AND CHRONIC UNDERNOURISHMENT ARE RECORDED IN THE UNION’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1936.
WITH “THE POOR CLASSES OF THE JEWISH POPULATION LIVING AS THEY DO IN NON-SANITARY SLUMS,” THE UNION REPORTED OUTBURSTS OF EPIDEMICS IN VARIOUS LOCALITIES, FOR EXAMPLE SPOTTED FEVER IN POLAND AND BESSARABIA.
” ALL INSTITUTIONS OF THE OSE AND TOZ REPORT A CONSIDERABLY INCREASED NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES,” THE REPORT SAYS. ” ABOUT 70,000 PATIENTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED IN THE CLINICS, DISPENSARIES AND CHILD WELFARE CENTERS AS COMPARED WITH 57,000 IN 1935. THE NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES AMOUNTED TO 295,000 AS AGAINST 240,000 IN 1937.”
REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE UNION FROM DIFFERENT LOCALITIES IN POLAND AND RUMANIA ” NOT ONLY TESTIFY TO THE INCREASE OF ILLNESS AND GROWING DETERIORATION OF THE PHYSIQUE OF THE CHILDREN, BUT SIGNALIZE THE IMMINENT DANGER FOR THEIR LIVES INHERENT IN THEIR CHRONIC UNDERNOURISHMENT, WHICH IS SOMETIMES TANTAMOUNT TO COMPLETE STARVATION,” THE OSE DECLARES.
DESPITE ATTEMPTS OF CHILDREN TO FIGHT THE EFFECTS OF FILTH, AN ” ABRUPT DECLINE IN THE PERSONAL HYGIENE OF THE CHILDREN” WAS INDICATED IN REPORTS FROM SCHOOL PHYSICIANS ONE SAID:
“IN DAMP, COLD DWELLINGS, 5 TO 6 PEOPLE LIVING IN A SMALL ROOM WHICH SERVES ALSO AS A KITCHEN, THE CHILDREN STAY FOR WEEKS WITHOUT TAKING OFF THEIR CLOTHES. THEY SLEEP, SEVERAL PEOPLE CLUSTERED TOGETHER, ON THE HARD SLEEPING STOVE. IT IS A GREAT MIRACLE, IN THESE CONDITIONS, THAT INFECTIOUS DISEASES ARE NOT WIDESPREAD.”
IN MANY SCHOOLS THE OSE AND TOZ PROVIDED MODEST MEALS FOR CHILDREN, THIS RELIEF BEING EXTENDED TO 43,500 CHILDREN DURING 1936. IN ADDITION, 17, 045 CHILDREN SPENT THE SUMMER MONTHS IN COLONIES AND SEMI-COLONIES OF THE HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS.
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