View report page

61
HEALTH EDUCATION.
The education of the public in matters pertaining to health
has become one of the duties of a local authority. There are two
ways in which this can be carried out, firstly by the efficient
discharge of the public health services in the area and secondly
by supplementary methods of teaching and propaganda. Undoubtedly
the soundest form of health education is in the efficient conduct
of the public health services. No series of health lectures, posters,
pamphlets, etc., can be of such value as the gradual improvement
of the sanitary conditions in the district and no health exhibition
can compete with an efficiently equipped and managed health
centre. No organised lectures can be so effective as the personal
advice given by medical officers, health visitors and school nurses
in the course of visits to homes or by consultations at the health
centres.
Health Education in Ealing is based on these principles and
every effort is made to keep the Health Centres up to a high standard
of efficiency and to concentrate largely on individual advice to
parents and children.
Other supplementary methods of propaganda are not lost
sight of, however, and although organised " Health Weeks" or
"Health Exhibitions" are not held there are numerous ways in
which knowledge on health topics is broadcast to the public.
It is to the young that most of our educative efforts have
to be directed, as instruction and advice given before the mode
of life has become definitely fixed is of the greatest value. The
foundation of all such instruction is laid in the schools and the
Education Committee have given every encouragement to the
teachers in the public elementary schools to devote sufficient time
to education in health matters. Every teacher has a copy of the
Board of Education's " Handbook of Suggestions on Health
Education" as a guide. They are also supplied with a copy of
"Better Health" each month. All children about to leave school
are given a copy of either "Keep Fit" for boys or" Health for
Beauty "for girls, two of the many excellent publications of the
Health and Cleanliness Council.