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HEALTH EDUCATION
Health education embraces the whole field of preventive medicine and although
it was not possible to cover all aspects of the work during 1960 substantial progress was
made in the following directions:—
Ante-Natal Care
At the request of assistant medical officers and health visitors, film shows were
arranged at Becontree Clinic and Ashton Gardens Clinic. The films, "My First Baby"
and "The British Midwife" were particularly well received and attracted large audiences.
In view of the interest created, two evening sessions were arranged when a number of
prospective fathers were able to attend with their wives. After each film opportunities
were given for discussion, and questions were answered by the medical officer and health
visitor.
Other films were shown on nutrition and care of the teeth but these were not so well
received as those on childbirth. However, some interest was stimulated by them,
particularly as they were co-ordinated with dental displays in the clinics.
To assist in their choice of films for health education in the clinics a number of
shows were arranged at the Civic Centre and these were attended by clinic staffs, district
nurses, midwives, day nursery staff, and public health inspectors where the films were
appropriate. This arrangement has proved to be very popular as it enables new films
to be seen soon after their release and their merits and demerits discussed before they
are shown to lay audiences.
Home Safety
Work under this heading fell into two portions; the winding up of the "Check
That Fall "campaign, commenced in 1959, and the institution of a drive against poisoning
accidents—the latter will continue into 1961. The "Check That Fall" campaign was
largely directed against accidents of the aged and so most of the work was done in old
people's clubs and luncheon clubs. As many of the members attend these organisations
for companionship and entertainment rather than for education, it was felt that the pill
should be sugared by the inclusion in the programme of travel and other films to supplement
the "Check That Fall" filmstrip and talk. This method attracted quite large
audiences and led to discussions and complaints of unsatisfactory conditions in the homes
of many of the members. Unfortunately, there was little response to several attempts
to obtain further details of the complaints by the completion of questionnaires supplied
by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
"Lock Away Dangers in Your Home" was the title of the second campaign, and
this was started in November 1960 with a display in a cinema supported by the projection
on the screen of a locally designed slide. Emphasis was laid on the frightening similarity
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