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71
DYSENTERY.
It will be seen that altogether 31 cases of Dysentery were
notified compared with 10 in the previous year. These cases
were all of a comparatively mild variety and in each
bacteriological investigation was conducted. The affecting
organism proved to be the Sonne bacillus and this disease
appears now to be endemic in the country, reaching epidemic
prevalence from time to time.
HEALTH EDUCATION.
Every opportunity is taken by the members of the staff
of the Public Health Department to give individual instruction
in health education as a normal part of their routine work,
as I believe that this continuous effort is of the first importance.
This is supplemented by the distribution of 2,000
copies each month of the Better Health Journal.
In addition to this the Health Visitors at the Centres
make a practice of exhibiting posters and articles of topical
interest in the waiting rooms of the Centres, and leaflets are
distributed.
This year again, we were fortunate in securing for the
schools a Lecturer from the Dental Board, who gave interesting
and instructive lectures to the senior children on the
subject of dental hygiene.
Towards the end of the year a National publicity
campaign for the greater use of the Health Services was
inaugurated for the country as a whole by Ministerial broadcast
speeches, and for Hendon in particular by the opening of
the new Mill Hill Health Centre.
The months of November and December were devoted
chiefly to Maternity and Child Welfare facilities, and local
propaganda included special posters, pamphlets and book
marks, lectures, newspaper articles and cinematograph films.
As far as possible the special literature was distributed
to the homes of the school children, thus concentrating on the
section of the population—Mothers with children—chiefly
concerned. The Campaign continues into 1938.