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21
information and advice. In fact, each single member of
the staff of the department is a component of the health
team. These activities, in combination, are of tremendous
value in counteracting the increasing amount of 'antihealth'
propaganda to which members of the public are
being subjected today in print and on the air.
The word 'health' must be interpreted in the widest
possible way. It connotes much more than the absence of
physical or mental illness. A scrutiny of the tables at
the end of this report gives some indication of the amount
of ill-health which falls on the citizens of Camberwell
but it gives no index of their health. Records of minor
sickness, unhappiness, emotional disturbances, family
friction, delinquency, excessive smoking and drinking are
among the details that are wanting. As yet no formula has
been devised which allows health to be recorded as a rate
Per thousand of the population. It is not easy, therefore,
for the health educationist to make more than a subjective
appraisal of the results of his endeavours, and those who
Sometimes cast doubts on the value of the health promotive
efforts of the Public Health Department, can seldom be
refuted by statistical evidence. There are many indications,
nevertheless, that considerable progress is being
made not only, for example, in the reduction of cases of
infection or home accidents, but in improving the standards
of health consciousness generally. The schools give
Particular evidence of this.
It is emphasised that health education is not the
monopoly of the Public Health Department. It is being
realised more and more that all branches of the health
service have a part to play, as well as the schools, the
c hurches and statutory and voluntary agencies. Special
e fforts have been made to enlist help from all these
Sources, and to approach the subject jointly. This has
met with a good measure of success. Reference has been
made already to the part that the churches are able to
Play in the promotion of health. The clergy have been most
ready to co-operate - indeed, approaches have been made
by them for assistance in health education, especially in
s uch matters as alcoholism, smoking and delinquency. A
Parents' group in one church, begun two years ago,
continues to flourish with great benefit. Meetings have
taken place with members of the Anglican and Free Churches,
one of the results of which is the formation of a working
Party to explore ways of improving the doctor/clergy
relationship in these matters. A pilot scheme has been