View report page

CAM 32
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Camberwell, S.E.5.
8th September, 1944.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
As in the previous war years this report does not reflect in
full measure the extent of the work of the Public Health Service
in 1943; it attempts nothing more than a record in statistical
form of the activities of the principal services, and follows the
lines of the direction of the Ministry of Health on the publication
of annual reports in War-time.
The health of the Borough continues to be satisfactory. The
birth rate was 18.76, the death rate 16.OO per thousand of the population,
and the infantile mortality rate 48 per thousand live births.
There were three deaths of women from diseases or accidents associated
with child birth, representing a maternal mortality rate of 1.18
per thousand total births.
The number of cases of infectious disease notified was less
than in the previous year, especially diphtheria; the number of
cases of this disease reported was 81 as compared with 159 in 1942.
In my last report I referred to the Department's activities
to secure the immunisation of the greatest possible number of children
against diphtheria. It is pleasing to report that the attendances
at the clinics provide the best commentary on these activities,
which included an advertising campaign and an intensive propaganda
effort by the Health Visitors and Sanitary Inspectors to stimulate
Interest of the parents in diphtheria preventive treatment. The
sustained efforts of the Public Health Department over a period of
years has resulted in over 70% of the school child population of
Camberwell having received immunisation treatment against diphtheria.
The Minister has requested that a reference should be included
in this report to the steps taken to improve the general standard
of cleanliness and habits of the population, and to combat infestation
by head lice.
Among the suggestions contained in the Ministry's Circular on
this matter were that Health Visitors should give more of their
attention to the children between two and five, and should concentrate
largely, in their visiting, on the homes which they know to
be the least satisfactory, and for the local authority to make
available issues of fine tooth combs and an insecticide preparation
known as Lethane Hair Oil.
The Health Visitors were instructed to report on the number
of children under five found to have nits or lice (a) at the Clinic
sessions, (b) in their own homes, and to record particulars of early
and late visit to homes where guidance was necessary in establishing
the right hygienic routine in washing, in the care of the hair and.
teeth, etc.
The figures failed to establish a case that the problem was
one of some size in Camberwell; in fact there were surprisingly few
instances where the standard of cleanliness In the home fell short
of a reasonable level. The limited distribution of Lethane oil and
combs at the Infant Welfare Centres to the end of the year also provided
proof Of the existence of a fairly satisfactory standard of
cleanliness throughout the Borough.