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6
Members of the Civil Defence personnel have volunteered
to carry out the treatment under the supervision of
trained members of the staff. Powers are given under an
order of the Ministry of Health to compel persons who
are unwilling to accept treatment to undergo such treatment
if required to do so by the Medical Officer of Health.
It is hoped, however, that it will not be necessary to have
recourse to compulsory powers, as it is far preferable to
attain the eradication of this unpleasant condition by
persuasion rather than compulsion.
FOOT CLINIC.
The question of providing a Municipal
Foot Clinic was agreed to and
arrangements were made for the opening of a Clinic in
central and accessible premises in the Borough. The
Clinic began to function early in 1943, and at the time
of writing this report a whole-time Chiropodist is kept
fully employed.
DIPHTHERIA
IMMUNISATION.
In the latter part of the year an
intensive publicity campaign was
initiated, posters being displayed in
shops and other suitable buildings
throughout the Borough; co-operation of Head Teachers
was obtained and consent forms bearing a message from
the Minister of Health were distributed throughout the
schools to parents of each family in which any of the
children were not immunised. A film was exhibited at
the Chain Stores, Heathway, and slides were shown in
the cinemas. Many parents agreed to have their children
immunised, but unfortunately the parents of very young
children did not respond as freely as those of the older
ones.
Diphtheria Immunisation should be carried out at or
immediately after the age of twelve months. This