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15
Vaccination.
There were 2,399 births in 1936 reported to the vaccination officer by the Kensington
Registrars. By the 31st December, 1937, 61.07 per cent. of these had been vaccinated or were
insusceptible to vaccination. The other 39.83 per cent, are accounted for as follows:—
Statutory declarations of objection 14.34 per cent.
Died before vaccination 5.34 „
Referred to other districts 10.88 „
Removed, leaving no trace 7.87 „
Postponed or unaccounted for 0.50 ,,
(In addition, by the 31st December, 1937, 226 certificates of successful vaccination had been
received in respect of children living in Kensington who were born outside the borough during 1936.)
In view of the fact that throughout the country generally only about 36 per cent, of the children
born are vaccinated, the Kensington return must be regarded as extremely satisfactory. Only
14.84 per cent. of the children born in Kensington in 1936 remained in the borough unvaccinated.
Whilst this high percentage of vaccinations is maintained Kensington is reasonably safe from
smallpox.
Health Propaganda.
A programme of health propaganda was conducted by the council's health lecturer throughout
the year at the infant welfare institutions. She also lectured to girls' and women's clubs and similar
organisations, and at the Princess Louise hospital. In addition to the lectures, educational films
were shown at the welfare centres.
The "Cinemotor" of the Health and Cleanliness Council visited the poorer districts of the
borough during June and health films were shown to about 6,000 people who evinced great interest.
The propaganda campaign initiated by the council in 1936 as a means of decreasing the infantile
mortality from enteritis was repeated during the summer of 1937. Lectures were given on the
protection of food, films were shown dealing with the fly nuisance, and posters and leaflets were
distributed throughout the borough.
In addition to the above, posters displaying the council's health services have been exhibited
at the St. Mary Abbots and St. Charles hospitals, the public libraries, the public baths, and on
the frames (which originally belonged to the Empire Marketing Board) at the barracks in Kensington
Church Street and the Fox and Lancaster Road elementary schools. It has been arranged
for leaflets dealing with the health services to be distributed from the post offices in the borough.
The monthly periodical "Better Health" published by the Central Council for Health
Education has been given to the mothers at the welfare centres, and left during the home visits of
the health visitors. The latter also distribute the booklet "Advice to Mothers" which deals with
domestic and personal hygiene and other matters of importance to the young mother.
An important and unique event during 1937 was the National Health Campaign, which was
opened by a wireless address to the nation by the Prime Minister on the 30th September.
This campaign was designed to arouse public interest in the health services of local authorities,
and the slogan "Use your Health Services" was introduced for this purpose.
All committees of the Kensington borough council accorded their support to the campaign,
and every effort was made to ensure its success in the borough.
Arrangements were made for large and small posters to be displayed throughout the borough
on hoardings and public buildings, and in welfare centres, shops, etc. Attractive leaflets were
distributed to the public and appropriately worded bookmarks were given out with all books from
the public and private libraries.
An outstanding contribution to the campaign was a health exhibition which was held at the
premises of Messrs. Derry and Toms, from the 9th to 20th November.
It was organised by the Central Council for Health Education in co-operation with the borough
council, and was opened by His Worship the Mayor of Kensington, Sir Allan Powell, C.B.E.
The exhibition comprised the following stands of local interest:—Public Health Department,
Borough Engineer's Department, Kensington Housing Trust, District Nursing Association and
British Red Cross Society (Kensington Branch).
In addition, there were the following twelve stands of national appeal:—Youth Hostels
Association, National Smoke Abatement Society, Eugenics Society, Hospital Savings Association,