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15
In September, 1956, the Public Health Committee approved
a publicity campaign being undertaken aimed at reducing smoke in
the atmosphere. The campaign was carried out during the week
commencing 29th October and considerable interest was aroused. Display
stands at the Town Hall and the public health department were provided
and the co-operation of the local Gas and Electricity Boards' offices
was enlisted. Ten thousand bookmarks were distributed through the
several public library buildings, and posters and leaflets were
distributed to local institutions, clubs and voluntary organisations.
Special articles were printed in the local newspapers, who gave
prominence in their columns to appropriate letters sent by the Chairman
of the Committee, Councillor Ernest D„ Wallis, V.R„D., FoR.I.C.S.,
and also by the Chairman of the National Smoke Abatement Society.
The number of enquiries from local residents received as a result of
the campaign was evidence of its success in drawing the public's
attention to the urgent need to reduce smoke production.
In the past few years, the public health department has
organised a Health Exhibition, a Food Hygiene Exhibition, and several
smaller campaigns, mainly in connection with flies, nuisances from
dogs and home safety. Whilst these periodic campaigns are an
extremely valuable form of health propaganda, they are soon forgotten,
and there is need for a more continuous form of health education. This
has been accomplished by the distribution each month of copies of
"Better Health" (the monthly journal of the Central Council for Health
Education) to clubs, hospitals and various other organisations in the
borough; by the display of suitable posters on the ex-Empire Marketing
Board poster-frames and other sites in Kensington; and by the
distribution of booklets, bookmarks, leaflets, posters, etc., dealing
with such matters as food hygiene, food poisoning, infectious diseases,
home safety, etc.
The Council make an annual grant of fifteen guineas to the
Central Council for Health Education, a body recognised by the Ministry
of Health as the medium through which health education material is
distributed throughout England and Wales, Good use is made of the
services available and posters, leaflets and other material are
frequently obtained from the Central Council for use in Kensington.
Mass Radiography
Mass radiography is undertaken by the Regional Hospital
Boards. Kensington is included in the area covered by the Mass X-ray
Unit No. 5A operated by the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board.
The purpose of mass radiography is twofold
(i) to find abnormalities of the chest, and in
particular tuberculosis and cancer of the lungs,
and
(ii) to give those whose x-ray is within "normal
limit" a certain degree of security.
During 1956, the Mass X-ray Unit No. 5A undertook a large
scale mass x-ray operation in Kensington covering approximately two
months. Twenty-five different sites in the borough were chosen
where the Unit set up, either in a closed or public session, to offer
x-ray facilities to Kensington residents and people working in the
borough. The sites included schools, colleges, hotels, departmental
stores, Council housing estates, etc. Publicity to the campaign was
given by means of posters and leaflets and, in addition, an appeal
was made by Councillor Ernest D. Wallis, V.R.D., F.R.I.C.S.., Chairman
of the Public Health Committee through the local newspapers.
A total of 12,086 persons was examined in the campaign;