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Reference ID U27YV2

Headline Health services in the WHO region of the Americas

Description Safeguarding the health of New York City's population: In the 50's, smooth, efficient public health services made it possible for people to live in the five boroughs of New York City without the threat of contagious diseases. Supplying clean water, hygienic food and removing wastes were sanitation and engineering problems of gigantic proportions. A breakdown in any of these services could have meant disaster for millions, especially in the Borough of Manhattan, an island of solid rock 13.5 miles long, 2.3 miles wide, with a population of 1,870,000 to which 350,000 commuters were added by day. The Department of Health of New York City spent over $25,000,000 a year - nearly twice the Regular Budget of the World Health Organization.

Prenatal clinic at Metropolitan Hospital: a municipal hospital operated by the City Department of Hospitals. A mother is given preliminary examination while her older child is parked in a playroom where it is cared for by the Hospital's Social Service Auxiliary. The Department of Health does not give prenatal care; most of it is given by private physicians and hospitals - such as the Metropolitan. About 165,000 babies are born in New York each year, all but about 200 in hospitals. The infant mortality rate for 1957 was 25 per thousand live births, the maternal mortality the same year 7 per 1,000 live births. Most infant deaths occurred in the first seven days after birth.

Asset date 01/01/1959

Country, area, WHO office United States of America

City New York

WHO Region AMRO

Consent No

File size 3.84 MB

Visibility class:

Public

Administered By HQ Records and Archives

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