View report page

36
in the West End. Some success in health education has, however, been
achieved during the past few years by the distribution of posters and
leaflets to all old people's clubs, youth clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Guide
Troops, and to various voluntary organisations in Westminster, for
exhibition at their meeting places.
The health education topic chosen for 1962 was that of Smoking and
Health.
In Circular No. 6/62, dated 12th March, 1962, the Minister of Health
had drawn the attention of local authorities to the Report of the Royal
College of Physicians entitled " Smoking and Health One of the
recommendations contained in the Report was that there should be more
education of the public, especially of school children, on the hazards of
smoking in relation to health. The Minister accordingly asked local
authorities to use all possible means to make the contents of the Report
widely known and to bring home to the public the dangers to health of
smoking, particularly cigarette smoking.
Publicity material on the hazards of smoking was obtained free of
charge from the Ministry of Health, and was also purchased from the
Central Council for Health Education, and was distributed as widely as
possible throughout Westminster.
With the co-operation of other Committees of the Council, posters
were displayed wherever possible at Council establishments—public
conveniences, baths and wash-houses, housing estates, depots, and
offices, and at the Citizens' Advice Bureaux. Posters were also sent
to the Secretaries of the three Tenants' Associations, and the seven
Street Associations in Westminster, with a request that they should
consider bringing the matter to the attention of their members. Twentythousand
bookmarks were purchased from the Central Council for Health
Education and were distributed through the Council's Libraries. Supplies
of leaflets were also purchased from the Chest and Heart Association,
and were distributed through the Public Health Department and the
Citizens' Advice Bureaux.
Large advertisements, bearing the same wording as shown on the
bookmarks used in the campaign, were inserted in two local newspapers
for a period of two consecutive weeks.
The co-operation of the Regional Hospital Boards and the Teaching
Hospitals Association was sought.
By arrangement, the Medical Officer of Health of the London County
Council and the Education Officer of that authority undertook various
measures to publicise this subject in schools and youth clubs.
In addition, in order to set a good example, the members of the
Public Health Committee present at its meeting on 6th June, 1962,