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134
topical health matters.
The programme was:-
Early months of the year
Early summer months before
main school holidays
September
October to end of the year
Prevention of coughs and colds
Holiday dangers
Immunisation
Prevention of fire in the home
Prevention of coughs and colds.
Posters and pamphlets publicising means of prevention and cure of
the common cold were displayed and distributed to the public in welfare
centres and other establishments, and also on nine display units
situated in prominent places throughout the borough.
Holiday dangers.
The intention in this campaign was to provide advice to people of
all ages, but particularly to parents, on how to make the most of their
holiday and preserve their general health in surroundings often very
different from those in which they spend most of their lives. The local
newspapers published a letter from the Chairman of the Health Committee
passing on hints about this subject, including such matters as
sunbathing, possible dangers on the beach, swimming, unfamiliar food,
drinking water, availability of health services abroad, the importance
of adequate sleep, travel sickness, etc. Posters and pamphlets were
also displayed and distributed throughout the borough, and book-marks
provided in the Council's libraries for distribution to the public.
Immunisation.
Health education in this subject formed part of the Home Counties
Immunisation Campaign sponsored by the Ministry of Health, which reached
its peak in the fortnight 19th-30th September, 1966. A letter from
the Chairman of the Health Committee was published by the local
newspapers in which parents were urged to safeguard their children by
having them fully immunised. Readers were reminded of the dramatic
reduction in the incidence of such diseases as smallpox, poliomyelitis,
diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus since immunisation against them
has been generally accepted and practised. However, outbreaks of these
diseases still occur from time to time and are likely to do so in the
foreseeable future. Parents should co-operate with their family
doctors and the local health authority to ensure that their children
are immunised at the right time. Details were given of the days and
times of immunisation sessions at the welfare centres.
London boroughs were asked by the Ministry of Health to keep a
record of immunisations and vaccinations carried out during the last
three months of the year, so that the effect of the campaign may be
evaluated centrally.
Prevention of Fire in the Home.
In my annual report last year, I drew attention to the campaign
held in November, 19&5, on the theme of "Safety in the Home" which had
special reference to dangers from fire, in particular from the mis-use
of oil heaters.