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Photograph by K. Robertson HEALTH EDUCATION CARNIVAL FLOAT
Another extremely successful campaign was Mental Health Week, 5th - 11th June,
the first of a series of three such weeks which are to be held each year until 1968.
The theme for 1966 was "Mental Health - Your Concern" . During the week, many filmshows,
lectures, talks and demonstrations were given at schools, churches and other
venues in the Borough in an endeavour to make the public more aware of mental
handicap and its implications. (A further report on the Mental Health Week activities
is given in the report on mental health (p. 68 )
The Department commenced two geriatric preventive clinics for the purpose of
giving our 'senior citizens' a health check up and advising on various aspects of
personal health. His Worship the Mayor, Councillor J. Coman, was the first patient to
be examined. The Health Education Officer devised the publicity material and was
actively engaged in visiting old people's clubs and talking about the benefits which
could be obtained from these clinics. A special mention of them was made on the
television programme, "Town and Around".
A special publicity campaign promoting facilities for cervical smears was held
at the Post Office Savings Headquarters and every eligible member of the female staff
attended talks and informal discussions about the service. Many of the staff said
that they were unable to obtain the service in the area of their residence, and
readily accepted the opportunity of taking advantage of this valuable preventive
measure.
The famous television and circus personality, "Pierre the Clown", visited over
30 primary schools during December, where he spoke to more than 10,500 children,
giving a very informal but penetrating lesson on Dental Hygiene. Each child was given
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