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20
HEALTH PROPAGANDA, 1926-1930.
Health Exhibition.
In 1926, a maternity and child welfare exhibition was held for three days at the Argyll Hall.
This form of health propaganda was so successful that it was decided to repeat it, on a larger scale,
and in 1928 a general public health exhibition was held for a similar period at the Town Hall. This
exhibition included a maternity and child welfare section organised by the Advisory Committee,
and proved a conspicuous success, over 14,000 people attending. A further exhibition is being
organised for 1931.
Health Concerts.
A new kind of health propaganda was introduced in the year 1928 by the Public Health Department
in the form of health concerts. These are held at various halls in the borough and consist of
musical items and pageants illustrating health laws. In 1930, two health concerts were given, one
at The Venture in Portobello Road, and the other at the Town Hall. Both were well attended.
There is no doubt that this form of health propaganda is very popular, audiences of from 300 to
800 having attended these concerts.
Health Magazine.
In 1928, the Public Health Department commenced the publication of a periodical named
" Better Health," which dealt with propaganda. It was published monthly, and its general purpose
was to set before the public information in regard to health matters in short and interesting articles.
Each subject was dealt with by experts and technical details were carefully avoided. A special
issue of this paper was printed for Kensington, and a section reserved for articles of local interest.
Topical photographs were also inserted and various means used to stimulate local interest.
Two thousand copies of the magazine were issued monthly through the following channels of
distribution :—
(a) The infant welfare centres.
(b) London County Council schools in the borough.
(c) Various clubs and institutions.
(d) Public libraries.
(e) Women health officers'.
This publication involved no charge on the rates. Unfortunately, in October last, the circulation
of " Better Health " in Kensington was discontinued owing to the fact that the printers
were unable to secure sufficient advertisements to warrant the free issue of the journal. It is hoped
that it will be possible to recommence the publication of this magazine in the near future.
Competitions.
During the year 1930, three health competitions were organised by the health lecturer, (a)
one in connection with the London County Council schools, and (b) two in connection with women's
clubs. The school competition took the form of a " clean hands " campaign, and practically every
London County Council school in the borough took part. The competitions at the women's clubs
took the form of essays on health subjects.
The Health and Cleanliness Council kindly contributed the prizes for these competitions.
OTHER HEALTH SERVICES.
There are no fever hospitals within the borough, but several provided by the London
County Council are within easy reach.
The arrangements for the treatment of tuberculosis and the organisation for maternity and
child welfare work are discussed further on in this report.
Kensington enjoys a great advantage in possessing a large number of ladies and gentlemen
who give freely of their time and money to voluntary bodies interested in the health and welfare
of the poorer members of the community. Not only are all the maternity and child welfare institutions
in Kensington organised on a voluntary basis, but there are at work in the borough a
branch of the Charity Organisation Society, a branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association,
a branch of the British Red Cross Society, the Kensington Council of Social Service, School Care
Committees, a Tuberculosis Care Committee and a number of other bodies managed and financed
on voluntary lines by Kensington residents. The Council have endeavoured with marked success
to work in close co-operation with these organisations and the relationship between them has
always been a happy one.