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trated on the subject of smoking and lung cancer in schools although
his services are also made available to youth organizations and
Parent Teachers Associations.
Home Visits— By home visiting, health visitors and district
nurses can follow-up in a practical way much of the teaching and
advice given in the centres. Here are further opportunities for
teaching about the care of children and also of the aged, the preparation
of diets, personal hygiene and cleanliness in the home,
and the prevention of home accidents. Similarly, the public health
inspectors in their visits are able to give advice on many matters
relating to health education and home safety over and above the
immediate problem which was the occasion of their visit to the
household. It is generally recognised, too, that general practitioners
have a most important part to play in the health education of their
patients and their families. Indeed, the general practitioner, having
the confidence of his patients and their families, is in a particularly
powerful position to influence them on matters of healthy living.
Day Nurseries—When mothers attend a day nursery, either to
leave or to collect their children, the matron and the mother are able
to discuss any problems relating to the child. Such items as the
importance of play, diet, rest and habit training and the care and
upbringing of young children can be covered and much can be
achieved by the establishment of good relations between mothers
and staff. Similarly, doctors and health visitors, particularly during
their periodic visits to private day nurseries and child-minders,
are able to improve the standard of child care.
Publicity Material—The display of posters and the distribution
of leaflets is a useful adjunct to the more direct and personal teaching
methods described above. Publications and material utilised
include pamphlets and posters supplied by a variety of organizations
having an interest in health education and it is necessary to
exercise considerable discrimination in deciding what materials to
use. Examples of the topics covered are: —
Smoking and health Diet
Routine immunization Fire prevention
Dental health Tuberculosis
Venereal disease Mental health
Home safety Lung cancer
Apart from posters and leaflets, films and film strips are also
used. A panel of my senior colleagues meets periodically to keep
the whole question of health education under review and at the
same time to select suitable material and decide on the best ways
to disseminate it.
Special Campaigns—From time to time in the past special campaigns
have been launched to deal with specific problems, generally
of topical interest and importance. These have covered such sub-