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provision of the means and methods of such instruction. A panel of officers was formed
to advise on health education programmes generally and, in liaison with a small committee
of field workers, proved to be a means of stimulating and encouraging the
medical and nursing staff concerned with health education.
The growth of the department's library of film strips has been of material assistance
in providing visual aids in connection with the various talks given by medical and
nursing staff, and during the year 30 new film strips were appraised by a panel of officers
formed for this purpose. A new film strip dealing with B.C.G. vaccination against tuberculosis
was produced in the department, and proved useful in the instruction of teachers
and public health personnel in the technique and procedure relating to the Council's
scheme for the vaccination of 13-year-old children in schools. All film strips available
within the department were classified for easy reference by the staff concerned, and
during the year film strips were shown to various audiences on over 600 occasions.
The department owns 14 films which were used on 120 occasions and in addition
276 showings were arranged of films hired from various organisations. The new film
'Sensitivity to Antibiotics' made by the Ministry of Health was purchased for use in
the department, and was shown throughout the County area to medical staff, district
nurses and midwives.
Films and
film strips
The growth in educational activities at welfare centres is exemplified by the increase
in the number of educational sessions from 133 per month in 1949 to 328 per month in
1954. Further attention was given to the need to provide more demonstration material
for mothercraft training and a basic list of requirements for this purpose was approved
for implementation during 1955.
Educational
activities at
welfare
centres
An intensive campaign to stimulate awareness of the need for diphtheria immunisation
was held in February. The campaign was supported by illustrated advertisements
giving addresses and times of immunisation sessions in local newspapers, displays of
posters, distribution of leaflets and bookmarks, and press publicity.
Diphtheria
immunisation
campaign
In view of the unnecessary loss of life and incalculable harm resulting from accidents
in the home, the Council decided to hold an annual intensive campaign to supplement
the everyday effort of public health and other workers in their endeavours to reduce
the number of accidents occurring and to make people more aware of accident hazards.
The first of such campaigns was held in December when local programmes were implemented
in each division, and the co-operation of many official and voluntary organisations
enlisted in an endeavour to reach as many people as possible. Posters were widely
distributed on public information panels, London underground stations and on noticeboards
at schools and health service premises throughout the County area. Leaflets
were distributed through welfare centres, schools and other establishments, and head
teachers were invited to co-operate in making school-children aware of the more
common causes of home accidents and in the formation of habits for their prevention.
Advertisements inserted in local newspapers and a press release drawing attention to the
campaign and to the subject generally were further means used in bringing this problem
to the notice of as many people as possible. Films, film strips and exhibits dealing with
home safety were shown at welfare centres and group talks to parents of young children
were arranged.
Accidents in
the home
campaign
In addition to the exhibitions staged by the Council in Division 1, details of which
will be found on page 125, the department co-operated in other exhibitions organised
by Borough Councils and in a special exhibition dealing with the work done in the
field of special education for handicapped pupils held at County Hall in July. The
Council gave consideration to the desirability of holding larger exhibitions as opposed
to the existing practice of holding small exhibitions with varied presentation in the
several health divisions and it was decided that the present policy should be continued.
Exhibitions
The classification of all posters and leaflets used within the department for health
education purposes has facilitated the selection of suitable material in support of health
Posters and
leaflets
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