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The Anti-Smoking Clinic continued to operate throughtout
the year, and there is evidence that a substantial
proportion of those who attended have benefitted th e reby.
Propaganda against cigarette smoking was intensified,
particularly in schools where the campaign appears to be
achieving considerable success.
Health education activities continued to e xpand
especially in co-ordinating work with outside bodies
including churches, and opportunities were gi ven for
speaking on public health matters to numbers of audiences
of different types: the Camberwell Council on Alcoholism
and the St. Giles' Centre (formerly the Camberwell
Samaritans) were active and co-operative.
It is unfortunate that the Smoke Control programme
which had been proceeding so smoothly and effici ently,
was disrupted by changes in the availability of smok eless
fules, but it is hoped that these difficulties will soon
be overcome and the Council's efforts to reduce atmosph eric
pollution will again successfully progress.
The work of the Department was again bedevill ed by
staff shortages; the public health inspectors have been
below full establishment for several years now, and this
has rendered more difficult the proper training of student
inspectors. Nevertheless, Camberwell has maintained
good record for training inspectors and it is hoped that
this and similar schemes in other boroughs will i n time
resolve the acute shortage of these technical officers
the London area.
In conclusion, I should like to express my appreciation
for the encouragement and assistance I have at all times
received from the members of the Council, the other chief
Officers and their staffs. I would also like to say thank
you to the staff of the Public Health Department whose
hard work and devotion to duty, often in very diff icult
circumstances, have played such an outstanding p art in
maintaining the health of the Borough.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Your Obedient Servant,
H.D. CHALKE,
Medical Officer of Health.