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2
PREFACE
The health of the Borough of Lambeth during the year 1946 has
been generally satisfactory as is shewn by the statistics which
appear in the report. The mid-year population was estimated by
the Registrar General to be 209,910, an increase of 36.630 over the
population of the previous year, while the number of ration books
in use at the end of the year was 221,290, an indication that people
are still coming to live in the district in spite of the difficult housing
conditions due to overcrowding, dilapidation and war damage of
dwellings.
The birth rate 22.89 is the highest recorded for over twenty years
and the infantile mortality 35 and maternal mortality 0.61 are each
lower than at any time in the past. These are more than mere
indications of the success achieved by the Ministry of Food in their
scheme to insure that the most important section of the population
is in fact getting enough of the scarcer foods to raise their average
standard of health higher than it has been before.
Difficulties increased during the year in the repair of insanitary
houses due to shortages of many kinds of materials, of labour, and
of staff. In spite of the disheartening effect upon so many of having
homes in which they can take no pride, and of much serious overcrowding
which leads to discomfort and quarrels, people put up
and continue to put up with conditions of life which were the lot
of only a few before the war whereas now practically all are affected
alike in their different degrees. Everyday correspondence indicated
a high sense of frustration among the younger people who are
trying to start a home of their own and yet the general health still
stands up to the economic storm.
New homes for which water certificates were issued were 338, of
which 246 were prefabricated temporary dwellings and 92 permanent
flats and houses. There were some 12,500 applications for
houses in Lambeth which were considered to be alive at the end of
the year.
Warm thanks are due to the Chief Officers for their help and to
the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee for
advice and criticism and principally to the staff of the Public
Health Department.
A.G.G.T.
July. 1947.