View report page

HEALTH EDUCATION
Probably the most important development in health education during 1963 was
the substantial increase in the number of schools which were able to take advantage
of the facilities available within the department. The policy of arranging
organised courses as distinct from sporadic lectures was continued, the ones on
home safety and first aid being particularly popular. Although, as will be seen
from the following summary, much work has been done in the field of health
education we are as yet only scratching the surface of the problem of communicating
to the public the principles of good health of both body and mind.
Maternity and Child Welfare
The demand by the Health Visitors for more visual aids and other health
education equipment increased considerably during the year. Film shows in
particular were very well attended, the most popular one undoubtedly being "To
Janet a Son" which apart from being pleasant is a most instructive film. Once
again, the demand for this outstripped the supply in spite of the extra copies
available. Film strips were also widely used by both health visitors and
midwives in their ante- and post-natal classes. The psychoprophylactic method
of relaxation is now being taught in most clinics, and it is hoped that a
suitable film strip will soon be available.
Training of Students
Once again the London University Institute of Education sent two students
to Dagenham for practical training. One was a male nurse from Nigeria and the
other a Ugandan medical assistant. They replaced the teacher and a Kenyan
medical assistant who completed their course at the beginning of the year.
Talks were given by me to students at London University, to Health Visitors at
the South East Essex Technical College and the Royal College of Nursing, and to
Nurses at both the Lady Rayleigh Training Home and St. George's Hospital. The
Deputy Medical Officer of Health also lectured at a Nurses' Study Day in
Ipswich.
Health Education in Schools
An intensive campaign on Smoking and Health was run in all secondary
schools in the borough, and in this campaign extensive use was made of a
mobile unit hired from the Central Council for Health Education. Appropriate
film shows preceded the visit of the unit, and afterwards many schools availed
themselves of an anti-smoking display. Three schools also invited the Deputy
Medical Officer of Health to address Parent/Teacher Associations on the subject.
It is difficult accurately to assess the value of such a campaign, but with the
co-operation of the Headmistress concerned an attempt is being made in one
school to ascertain how much of the information has been retained. Apart from
the secondary schools, three junior schools also asked for this topic to be
dealt with in their senior forms. Film shows and talks were arranged accordingly.
The improved liaison between health and education department staffs led
to more schools becoming interested in new health education topics, but it was
only possible to deal with a few of these, such as food hygiene, in 1963. The
school in which a short course was provided in 1962 asked for a comprehensive
programme to provide continuous instruction throughout the academic year
1963-64. This was done, and may become a pattern for other schools in future
years.
Food Hygiene
New ground was broken when a training course for the Royal Institute of
Public Health and Hygiene Diploma in Bakery Hygiene commenced at Rush Green
28