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Show W THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE It is the duty of a government through its various departments and its official agents to guard and promote pro-mote the welfare of its people. For this purpose exist the army and navy, departments of agriculture and commerce,' the postal service, boards of health and sanitation, and the police and fire departments. Few intelligent persons will deny that one of the most important functions func-tions of a government is its protection protec-tion of its people. It is true that each person is responsible to a large extent for his own health and the health of his family. But In spite of his precautions, his neighbor's ignorance ig-norance or indifference may expose him to peril. His only sure protection protec-tion is the enforcement of sanitation sanita-tion and health laws. This is a function of the state board of health and -the local health departments. It is most Important to every citizen citi-zen that the state board of health and the local departments be well 'equipped, adequately manned and supported in every possible way. Yet what are the facts. These departments, the most important of all to the welfare and happiness of the people of Utah, have been crippled crip-pled and all but destroyed by niggardly nig-gardly appropriations. The state board of health has been forced to exist on an appropriation of only $20,000 for twa years $10,000 per year, or about two cents per inhabitant. inhabi-tant. On this small amount the board is expected to guard againBt epidemics, enforce the many lawB enacted en-acted for the protection of health, and perform other functions for the common welfare. Is not thlB work worth more to each of us than the price of a postage stamp? In spite of what some pessimist may say, the people rule. Their will is law. The starving of this most important department of government govern-ment has existed because the people were indifferent. They were Indifferent Indif-ferent because they did not realize the tremendous value to themselves individually and to the state at large, of the work being done by this department and of the even greater work which could be done if given adequate appropriations. When they understand the vital importance im-portance of these departments they will demand and will Becure their proper support. Utah Public Health Association. |