London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Dagenham 1957

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]

This page requires JavaScript

In connection with health education generally, during 1957 a number of talks listed
in the report were given by Mr. Prior and members of his staff. Legislation of recent
years, e.g. the Food and Drugs Act and the Food Hygiene Regulation 1955, the Rent
Act 1957—has made necessary much education of the public if it is to be effectively
operated, and much explanation and discussion in order to secure the willing co-operation
of all those concerned. This necessary health education demands continuous and
persistent effort if it is to be properly organised.
In the near future, consideration should be given to the appointment of a specialist
officer in this branch of Public Health, with the necessary time and equipment at his
disposal to arrange for organised courses in health education instead of the occasional
lecture as at present.
It is gratifying to record a further drop in the Infant Mortality rate which was 16.76
as compared with 20.87 in 1956. The stillbirth rate, however, showed an increase from
21.66 to 22.53. Note must be taken of the fact that of the 24 babies who died during
the year no less than 16 did so during the first week of life, and of these 9 deaths were
attributed to prematurity alone. It is the sum of stillbirths and deaths during the first
week which constitute the perinatal deaths. Research into the causes of perinatal deaths
is to be carried out on a national basis during 1958.
Home accidents have been receiving ever increasing attention during recent years
and it is considered that inquiries into their causes as well as their prevention is as much
the concern of health departments as diphtheria and poliomyelitis. During the year it
was suggested that the formation of a Home Safety Committee was desirable and I hope
to be able to report progress in this field at the end of 1958.
In conclusion I would like to express my thanks to the Chairman and members of
the Committees concerned with the administration of the services covered by this report,
for their consideration and support of my efforts to maintain and improve the
health of the people of Dagenham, and to members of my staff for their contribution.
The year that is behind us has been a year of progress in many directions but much
still remains to be done if we are not to be satisfied with mere absence of disease but are
to achieve that state of positive health which is so desirable.
Our tasks are changing and we must adapt ourselves to those changing tasks. The
emphasis is slowly shifting from what we can do to help people by central action to what
we can teach them to do to help themselves, but— ‘Amidst change it should be remembered
that the end is not mere life it is rather a good quality of life.’ (Aristotle)
J. Adrian Gillet,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department,
Civic Centre,
Dagenham.
10