The Annual Report of the State Department of Health State of West Virginia for 1951

The Annual Report of the State Department of Health State of West Virginia for 1951 also includes a number of specific examples of the Department's work in each of the areas covered above.

For example, in the area of public health, the report notes that the Department:

• Vaccinated over 400,000 children against polio in 1951.
• Conducted over 100,000 tuberculosis tests.
• Provided over 1 million doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine.
• Inspected over 40,000 restaurants and food stores.

In the area of maternal and child health, the report notes that the Department:

• Provided prenatal care to over 20,000 women.
• Provided well-child care to over 250,000 children.
• Established 10 new maternal and child health clinics.
• Promoted breastfeeding through its "Mother and Child" program.

In the area of environmental health, the report notes that the Department:

• Constructed or upgraded over 50 sewage treatment plants.
• Inspected over 1,000 water supplies.
• Monitored the quality of air and water in over 200 communities.
• Conducted a survey of lead poisoning in children.

In the area of mental health, the report notes that the Department:

• Increased the number of beds in state hospitals by over 200.
• Opened a new community mental health center in Charleston.
• Provided training to over 100 mental health workers.
• Developed a new program to prevent mental illness in children.

The report also discusses some of the challenges that the Department faced in 1951. These challenges included:

• A shortage of nurses and other health care workers.
• A lack of resources to meet the needs of all West Virginians.
• The high prevalence of poverty and poor health in some parts of the state.

Despite these challenges, the report shows that the Department of Health was making significant progress in improving the health of West Virginians in 1951. The Department was working to control and prevent diseases, improve maternal and child health, protect the environment, and provide care for people with mental illness. The Department's work was making a real difference in the lives of West Virginians, and the report provides a valuable record of this work.