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Health Propaganda.
To-day the health of the individual is in his own keeping to
maintain or to lose. There can be no doubt that a large amount of
invalidism in the population need not occur. Instruction of the
public in the principles and practice of hygiene and the importance
of the personal culture of health are matters occupying an important
place in the realm of preventive medicine. No matter how judicious
the teaching, no great advance can be made without the intelligent
co-operation of the individual himself. To obtain the maximum
result from health education, instruction must be given at an early
age—the earlier the better.
In Camberwell advice is given to mothers daily in their own
homes by the health visitors concerning the maintenance of their
own, and their children's health; health talks to mothers are also
given at the infant welfare centres in this borough, and a booklet
containing general information and hints for the expectant mother
and on the management of infants is distributed.
This Council's activities to stimulate interest in the subject of
healthy citizenship also includes a poster display and a leaflet distribution.
During the year arrangements were made at no cost to the
Council for the distribution of 2,500 copies monthly of the periodical
Better Health, the official journal of the Central Council for Health
Education to which organisation the Council also agreed to contribute
a donation of £5 5s.
The dissemination of knowledge on matters relating to feeding,
cooking and marketing: diphtheria prevention: cancer, etc., has
formed part of the propaganda activities of this department for some
years past, and these activities should not be relaxed. In this regard
I am of opinion that the Local Education Authority has an unrivalled
opportunity of assisting local authorities in their endeavour to
create a national health conscience by providing instruction in
hygiene and habits of healthy living to the pupils attending the
public elementary schools.
Cleansing Station.
A cleansing station consisting of a nurses room, a reception
room, 2 baths, and a discharge room adjoins the disinfecting station
in Peckham Park Road and was installed for the purpose of dealing
with verminous conditions in children and adults. The Council
by arrangement with the London County Council undertakes the disinfestation
of children attending the elementary schools in Camberwell
found to be in a verminous condition. The cleansing and
treatment of these school children is carried out under the supervision
of the nurses of the London County Council, while the disinfestation
of the clothing and of the homes is carried out by the Borough
Council's sanitary staff.