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HEALTH EDUCATION.
Much of the work of a health department, especially in
maternity and child welfare and the school medical services, is
educational in nature and designed to instruct the parents upon
the healthy upbringing of their children. This is very largely
done by talking to the individual parent either at the centres or
at routine medical examinations, but in addition various pamphlets
on many subject are distributed and posters arc exhibited at the
centres. A blackboard, on which each week a particular subject
is dealt with, is exhibited in the waiting room so that the parents
may have an opportunity of reading and discussing it with the
staff at the centre.
During the year 2,000 copies of the journal "Better Health"
were circulated each month, mainly through the senior departments
of the schools, but a certain number are also given out at the
materity and child welfare sessions, and those households
which secure a copy are asked to pass it on; in this way the
journal reaches many homes. An article dealing with health
matters was contributed each month by your Medical Officer of
Health and dealt with the following subjects:—
" School Medical Services Routine Medical Examinations."
" Visit of the Mayor and Mayoress."
" Vitamins."
" Cleanliness."
" The Swimming Season."
" First Aid in the Home."
" Holidays."
" Protection Against Diphtheria."
" Winter."
" The Value of Milk."
" Dental Exhibit and Lectures in Schools."