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The Design for Living Exhibition no longer serves just to introduce the
visiting groups to health education, but is increasingly utilised by
teachers with their actual project groups.
In addition, through the World Health Organisation, the British Council
and agencies located in some forty countries, mature fellowship holders and
"students" in many disciplines attend for training and study purposes. The
latest available audio-visual aids not only feature in the Exhibition,which
illustrates the story of life from birth to the advancing years, but are
extended by means of original mobile display units for use in colleges,
schools etc., for continuous health education. A film and demonstration
theatre continues to provide further attractions.
The highlight of 1971 campaigns proved to be the major endeavour offering
information for the benefit of teenagers, parents and teachers on the
hazards of Sexually Transmitted Infections. Literally thousands of posters
and leaflets. Borough designed, have been circulated. One striking modern
nude study contrasted with the face of a child victim of V.D. gained
world acclaim. Of particular interest is the fact that Sweden's major campaign
to fight the menace of Gonorrhoea has been largely patterned on the
Hammersmith campaign procedures. It can also be claimed that Hammersmith
literature has found its way into the igloos of the Eskimos, and the mining
and camp territories up to the Canadian arctic circle! Other of the year's
campaigns have included Cordon Bleu cooking, linked meals for students and
elderly folk, plus an exposition of slimming dietaries, A mental health
project popularised N.A.M.H., the Robot, designed to illustrate that in the
event of breakdown the human touch is needed. Geriatric care, child health,
cytology, dental health, home and water safety features have drawn enthusiastic
audiences and follow-up interest.
Research endeavours have resulted in release of the "best seller" booklet,
Social Drinking and You (written and illustrated for teenagers), plus a
continuous demand for Community Services For the Incontinent Adult, based
on a comprehensive survey in a lecture given by the Director of Health
Services. Leaflets "The X in Sex", "Is Your Family Aware?" and "Sexually
Transmitted Diseases" have commanded attention resulting in a demand for
reprint editions.
Children under five years have contributed to intensive research into the
safety of plastic pill containers, and in torque tests on the more traditional
medicine bottle caps. During the year special research was instituted
into a study of the likely effects of modern sound, light and colour usage
in discoteques, discobars and the like, and the findings of "The Kinetic
Experience" are being early awaited by social scientists and electronic
specialists alike. In 1971 the Health Education Service held the record for
the total number of appearances in Radio London's regular health programmes,
and has again featured in Nationwide (B.B.C.) and a variety of television
and radio documentaries in this country, as well as in Holland, U.S.A.,
Canada and Sweden.
But of course, although specialising in health education projects to encourage
further research, the day-to-day work of the service is geared to ensure
follow-up of literature, teaching displays, technamation units, films,slides,
cassettes, overhead projection, programmed learning, for local schools,
colleges and societies- to offer courses, conferences,, lecture panels,
demonstrations and exhibitions, in all manner of health, personal health,
social and environmental themes, and to supply clinics, centres, information
offices, indeed all enquirers, with the latest available media. The Design
for Living newsletter is a well established quarterly publication which
in 1971 trebled circulation in response to demand from health educators.
With the encouragement of the Directors of Health and Social Services, and
of the Council's Committees, the Hammersmith Health Education Service is
stimulated to ensure that the service remains "At Your Service"!
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