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HEALTH EDUCATION
As far as the Health Education Section was concerned, 1971 was a
year of great turbulence, starting in January with the total wreckage
of Gale Street Health Education Centre by vandalism, followed by the
sudden and untimely death in February of Mr. A.C. Phillips, Projectionist/
Technician.
In March, a new but much smaller Centre was found at Faircross Old
School, and in June, we welcomed to the team Mr. P. Moss to succeed
Mr. Phillips. Finally, Mrs. P. Kasim, Assistant Health Education Officer
resigned at the end of December.
In spite of all these changes, it was pleasing to note that the demand
for health education in the Borough increased. This demand was met, but
unfortunately, as financial restrictions once again prevented the post of
the second assistant being filled, expansion of the service, research and
evaluation of health needs within the Borough, and many other health projects,
were curtailed.
Health Education in Schools.
The most noticeable change in health education in schools is the
increased demand for "specialised" health topics. At the moment eight of
the eleven comprehensive schools have received short series of talks by
staff of the Health Education Section and Health Department in general.
The General Studies Department of Rush Green College again asked for
help with their health education programmes to both day and block release
students, and a total of sixty four lectures were given throughout the
year.
We were invited to participate in a “Family Evening-Sex Education"
experiment for the first year pupils and their parents at one of the
Comprehensive Schools. The response of the parents, pupils and teaching
staff was overwhelming and the evening a success.
The Child Care Course for the basic certificate of the National
Association for Maternal and Child Welfare again proved popular, and all
oral examinations were covered by staff from the Health Department.
Food Hygiene Education
The Food Hygiene Certificate and Diploma Courses of the Royal Institute
of Public Health and Hygiene run in conjunction with Rush Green College, have
once again proved worthwhile, the lectures being given by the Public Health
Inspectorate and other members of the Health Department.
Teachers Training Course
The Health Education Officer was invited to give a two-hour lecture on
the Use of Visual Aids in Health teaching to the Teachers Training Course at
the North East London Polytechnic. This was very well attended by not only
student teachers but by all the Health Visitor students also.
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