London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Southgate 1950

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southgate]

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Appendix 1
HEALTH EDUCATION
Health Education in Southgate during 1950 followed closely
along the lines set out in detail in the Annual Report for 1949.
During the year, 31 local organisations were visited, and were given
either a talk on a subject associated with health, or a combined
film show and talk. The popularity of these arrangements has
been maintained, and I am quite confident that this medium is
responsible for a welcome increase in general knowledge concerning
matters which directly affect the welfare of the community.
As before, opportunity has been taken to enlist the support
of the local Press in the publication of topical articles relating to
health, especially infectious diseases. As hitherto, the Editor of
the Press has been truly generous in allotting a portion of his
limited space, very often in a prominent position. I should like to
take this opportunity of once again thanking the Editors most
sincerely for their generous co-operation. Without this co-operation
and help, the work of health education in Southgate would undoubtedly
suffer.
Arrangements have already been made to extend the scope
of health education in the schools. This, of course, is largely
the concern of the County Council staff, but it all forms part of our
general health education programme. It is indeed pleasing to be
able to report that the co-operation of the Borough Education
Officer and of all head teachers is invariably cordial, and that
we have been afforded all reasonable facilities to carry out this
important work.
The fourth edition of the Southgate Public Health Services
Handbook was issued to us in 1950, and was duly circulated. The
steps taken by the Public Health Committee to encourage the
inauguration of a Food Traders' Hygienic Guild in Southgate have
received attention elsewhere in this Report.
We hope to continue our programme of health education,
making such adjustments and amendments as appear desirable
in the light of existing circumstances. As I have said in the past,
one seldom sees the results of this work until considerable time
has elapsed. I am none-the-less convinced that the time and very
limited expenditure involved have been amply justified. The future
of public health in almost every field of this vast subject lies more
and more in adequate education of the coming generation. Our
aim must be to educate members of the community, applying such
technique and methods of approach as are best fitted to each section
and age group. By such means, and by such means alone, can
we hope to bring to the notice of those intimately concerned the
part which each individual and group of individuals has to play
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