Speech #900169132

Mr. President. millions of Americansmigrant farmworkers and their familiestraditionally have been excluded from community health services--excluded by distance. cost. their own lack of knowledge. their transiency. and community rejection. Migrants have less access to health care than other members of our population. although they generally have a greater need for health care. The migrant familys transient way of life aggravates the many basic health problems which are associated with their poverty. and poor living and working conditions. They live on the fringes of society. far removed from such fundamental community health services as immunizations and obstetrical care. The Migrant Health Act. enacted in 1962 as Public Law 89692 with an appropriation ceiling of $3 million annually for a 3year period. has started to change this picture. Because of its widely recognized success In upgrading the health of the migrant farm family. the act was extended by Public Law 89109 for an additional 3 years with increasing appropriations. This extension carries the program through June 30. 1968. We are far from providing each migrant the minimum standard of health most of us have. they need more than a getwell card. Extending the appropriation of the Migrant Health Act as I am proposing today will bring the Public Health Service programs to a more realistic level. The Migrant Health Act which amends title III of the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants for improving domestic agricultural migratory workers health services and conditions helps States and communities to muster the resources needed to extend their services to migrants. Grants by the Public Health Service pay part of the cost of family clinics held in large labor camps at times when migrant workers and their families can use the service without loss of time from work. Local physicians provide medical treatment for illness or injury at the family clinics. They also provide immunizations. screening for hidden disease. family planning services. and preand postnatal care. In addition. they supplement family clinic services by providing care in their own offices between clinic sessions. Nurses assist the physicians in the clinics. and visit camps on a regular schedule to advise on health matters. identify health problems that require treatment. arrange for the patients to see project physicians. and see that patients understand and follow the doctors instructions. Migrant health grants also help to pay for dental care. health education. sanitation services. and other types of health services. Programs under the act stress flexibility in the scheduling of services so as to make them available at times and places where migrants can effectively be reached. Night clinics are frequently held at points where migrant workers are concentrated and health aides work in migrant labor camps in order to bring service to people illaccustomed to seeking and using medical care. Through these projects we are making progress in the health status. the personal health practices. and the environment of migrant workers and their families. During the 1967 fiscal year. onefourth of the Nations migrants had access to project services for at least a brief period. Migrant workers and family members made more than 239.000 visits for medical or dental treatment. In addition. nurses made 125.000 visits to migrant families. for casefinding. followup. and health counseling. and sanitarians made 125.000 camp inspections. However. the demand for migrant health services far exceeds the existing programs resources. Grant funds available for fiscal year 1968 were limited to $7.2 million. about $2 million less than the small authorization. Yet the needs for growth of existing projectswithout adding a single new project anywhere in the countrycame to more than $13 million.