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HEALTH EDUCATION AND HOME SAFETY
The health education programme ranged from the individual advice given
to young mothers by health visitors and day nursery matrons and to shopkeepers
by public health inspectors, to the organisation of exhibitions and
campaigns.
The Medical Officer of Health was assisted by a Health Education and Home
Safety Officer and a departmental committee. The committee included members
of the medical, nursing, dental, home help, mental health and environmental health
services and met every month to discuss programmed projects on health education
and home safety; the local organisational details of national campaigns;
the purchase and distribution of publicity literature; and the use of visual aids,
etc. (available from central sources such as the Ministry of Health, Central
Council for Health Education and the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents).
Health Exhibition
A display which was officially opened by the Worshipful the Mayor of
Southwark, Alderman Mrs. F. Whitnall, J.P. was mounted for two weeks in
December in two vacant shop sites at the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre. It
illustrated the main functions of the Health Department, including imported food,
food hygiene, rodent control, smoke control, prophylaxis, maternity and child
welfare, home nursing, dental health and home safety.
Smoking
The Ministry of Health promoted a national anti-smoking campaign in
October, and 250 posters were displayed at the various Council premises and
notice boards, including the public libraries.
The dangers of smoking formed an important part of the Health and Home
Safety Exhibition presented at the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre in December,
which was attended by over 350 schoolchildren in organised parties. Display
units illustrating these dangers were shown, and the continuous film programme
included several items on this subject.
Venereal diseases
The addresses of all local clinics for venereal diseases were circulated to
Head Postmasters for display in a list of official addresses available to the public
in post offices and, during a national campaign in August and September, a
widespread display of posters, overprinted with these addresses, was arranged
for the notice boards of the Council. The Borough Engineer also co-operated in
displaying these posters on Council vehicles and in all public conveniences.
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