Public and parochial schools are a logical place to concentrate efforts toward veneral disease education, Dr. Philip R. Beckjord, professor and head of the department of public health at the Tulane medical school, said last night.
Dr. Beckjord told a symposium of the Orleans Medical Society seriousconsideration should be given the possibility of initiating such a program. 'As a Corollary'
"As a corollary this would afford an opportunity to refresh parents, through the Parent- Teacher Association, on their responsibility to properly orient the conduct and health of their children in and out of the home/' he said.
Thirteen per cent of the new cases of primary and secondary syphilis seen at the Delgado Clinic in a 15-month period involved persons between 6 and 18 and about 30 per cent of these were students, he noted.
Dr. Nicholas Accardo, chairman of the city health board, told the meeting at the Louisi-ana Sta? rsity medical
i "that the incidence of syphilis has skyrocketed.
By 2600 Per Cent
Between 1957 and 1962 primary and secondary syphilis cases in New Orleans increased by 2600 per cent, he said. This is compared to the statewide increase of 560 per cent and the nationwide figure of 330 per cent. ■ *
Dr. Robert L. Simmons, chief of;,- the department of public health ,at LSU, suggested routine examinations and blood tests for all citizens.
A major handicap to this, he said, is past VD victims would show positive readings in blood tests even though they have i been completely cured.
Facilities, staffs and funds for examinations are inadequate, Dr. Simmons said, but the situation could be helped if local . physicians and laymen were to combine their efforts.
Other speakers included fer. Andrew Hedmeg, director, division local health service, state board of health; Dr. Robert R.Gomila. Jr., director of the VD clinic here, and Dr. G, H. Hauser, director of the division of laboratories, state board.
