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HEALTH EDUCATION
The dissemination of information on matters relating
to health has become one of the major activities of the
public health service. Every available medium for doing
this is used by the Council's officers - posters, pamphlets,
booklets, films and film strips, slides, flannelgraphs,
charts, diagrams, talks, group discussions, demonstrations,
exhibitions, etc. It is almost impossible to assess the
effect of these efforts, but there is evidence generally
that the public is becoming increasingly health conscious.
Attendances at meetings, talks, film shows, etc., are often
discouraging, but the interest and enthusiasm displayed
by those who attend serves as a spur to further effort.
Health education is of particular importance among
the immigrant population, many of whom are unused to the
standards of living which prevail in this country. The
position in relation to coloured immigrants is, however,
improving and, in general, they are co-operative and readily
put into practice the fundamental rules of hygiene. In the
early part of the year, a conference for West Indians was
arranged to take place at the Town Hall to explain our
way of life to students and immigrants. This conference
was sponsored by the Commission for the West Indies, British
Guiana and British Honduras and the speakers included the
Medical Officer of Health, the Divisional Education Officer,
the Manager of the Camberwell Employment Exchange and
representatives of local government and the police.
Unfortunately, only sixteen of the better educated
type of West Indians attended. They took a lively interest
in the proceedings, however, and were urged to spread
information among their fellow-countrymen and to try to
form a Camberwell West Indian Group to take an interest
in civic affairs.
During the year under review, the Medical Officer of
Health and his staff gave twenty-seven talks to various
groups, including women's organisations and schools. Most
of these were supplemented by sound films, film strips,
demonstrations and other visual aids and were followed by
group discussions. The subjects included Public Health,
Housing and Sanitation, Clean Air, Home Safety, Food Hygiene
and Rodent Control.
The Camberwel 1, Peckham and Dulwich Chamber of Commerce
arranged to hold a Trade Fair at Camberwell Baths from the