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HEALTH PROPAGANDA.
The forms of health propaganda introduced during 1937 were continued
during 1938.
The Council's co-operation with the National and Surrey County
Council's Health Campaigns which commenced in the autumn of 1937
was continued during the spring of 1938, the effort being limited to an
approach to the school children, and mothers attending the Infant
Welfare Centres, owing to the recognised difficulty of attracting audiences
to public meetings in this District.
The children over 11 years of age from most of the public secondary
and elementary schools in the District attended two displays of health
films at one of the local Cinemas in the early months of the year. Unfortunately
none of the private schools availed themselves of the
opportunity to attend. While these displays were successful in many
ways, the routine use of the cinematograph in schools with the inclusion
of suitable health films, would probably prove of greater value and less
costly, with less disorganisation and risk of infection.
Similarly, displays at the Infant Welfare Centres such as were given
during the early part of the year would probably prove more acceptable
if introduced as a regular part of the programme at the Centres. Undoubtedly
there are great possibilities in the use of the film for health
education, and such money as is available could well be spent on the
production of more films dealing with specific health questions in a
modern and attractive manner.
A local edition of "Better Health," a monthly magazine containing
a foreword written or arranged by the Medical Officer of Health, the
inset of which is produced by the Central Council for Health Education,
has been distributed throughout the District since November, 1937.
Originally 2,000 copies were issued locally each month, but this number
was reduced to 1,000 in October, 1938, as meeting more closely the
demand.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
During the second half of the year following representations from
some of the general practitioners practising in the District, an Advisory
Committee was set up consisting of an equal number of representatives
of the Council and of the practitioners, such Committee to meet at least
three times a year to consider questions of public health as affecting
the Urban District, and to report to the Public Health Committee.
The first meeting of the Advisory Committee was not held until
1939.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The Council is responsible for the Maternity and Child Welfare work
in this District, and in its endeavour to minimise the risks of childbirth,
and to secure the healthy development of all children born or residing
in the area, the following measures are taken:—
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