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TUBERCULOSIS
The notification rate of respiratory tuberculosis of 0.71 per 1, 000 population
for the year is more than twice as high as the national average of 0.31 for
1964. Certain parts of the Borough have particularly high rates, for instance
the north-west wards. Accounts of the work of the chest clinics have been
supplied by the chest physicians and appear on page 21, Much remains to be done
to eradicate this preventable disease. Our problem centres largely around the
immigrant population, principally the Asiatic peoples, and the occupants of
common lodging and seamen's lodging houses with which the area is blessed
Under the Ministry's scheme set up in January reports from sea and airport
medical officers giving the forwarding addresses of arriving immigrants are
received. However, many time-consuming abortive visits by day and night are
required to produce one fruitful response. As the addresses given in this area
are frequently overnight points of call, this scheme can be of only limited
value. Yet, even if adult immigrants are difficult to track down, their children
attending school can be checked to ensure that protection is maximal, and
at times a lead to a family infection discovered.A pilot survey of Heaf testing
in a school with a large immigrant population is described on page 76. it would
appear necessary to extend this to all immigrant children as B.C.G. may need to
be offered to much younger children in these groups than has been customary for
indigenous children of this country. However, the problem amongst adult
immigrants will require a broader concept. Ascertainment and control of
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tuberculosis in adults will be one facet of a community approach seeking the
integration of immigrant groups. Educational - including health education
and sociological procedures need to be incorporated.The department is co-operating
with a recently formed Council for the Citizens of East London which receives
official support from the Borough Council. Such help to immigrants must include
guidance on hygienic standards acceptable in our society. It is naive to assume
that a few posters printed in the appropriate language will solve problems of
communication where many are illiterate in English and in their own language.
More personal contact is being made in maternity and child welfare clinics
using interpreters, and pictorial media.
Housing
Despite the upheavals of the changeover period,the new 1966-70 quinquennial
slum clearance programme was prepared. The Minister of Housing and Local
Government required a return to be made based on slums as existing, and not
those considered to be capable of being dealt with over a five-year period.
The resulting proposals for the period amount to 5,000 dwellings, this being
one-third of the total for the same period over the whole inner London area.
Agreement on the allocation of areas of development as between the Greater
London Council and this Borough is proceeding. Recognition of past efforts of
the London County Council and the renewed goodwill of the Greater London
Council, in this field of co-operation, is well deserved.
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