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(6) ' Better Health."
Eight hundred copies of the magazine "Better Health" are
circulated each month through Maternity and Child Welfare Centres,
libraries and schools. A copy is sent to all general practitioners,
councillors, and other interested individuals and bodies. The
magazine contains a foreword by the Medical Officer of Health on a
topical health subject, while for 1948 at least, the Medical Officer of
Health of Southgate is responsible for supplying material for the
centre pages of the magazine.
(c) Articles in the Local Press.
Opportunity is taken to insert material in the local press
relating to health subjects of current interest, including reproduction
of the foreword to "Better Health". The local press is most cooperative,
and has been very generous in affording space. This
co-operation is very greatly appreciated, and has been the means of
supplying many thousands of residents with information relating to
matters which intimately affect their welfare.
Apart from reports on talks and film shows, comments on
discussions at Council Meetings and the insertion of material taken
from annual and special reports, 29 articles on health subjects of
topical interest supplied by the Medical Officer of Health appeared
in the local press during 1947. It would appear correct to say that
the public appreciate and has come to expect the appearance of
regular information and articles in the local press.
(d) Talks, Demonstrations and Film Shows at Maternity
and Child Welfare Centres.
Talks, Demonstrations and Film Shows are arranged from time
to time at Maternity and Child Welfare Centres. In this connection
the Ministry of Food presented food demonstrations at all our
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres during 1947, and has arranged
to repeat these demonstrations during 1948. In addition, a short
course of lectures was arranged for ante-natal mothers, in. conjunction
with the Central Council for Health Education on the
subject of ' 'How Life is Passed On''. Short film shows were arranged
at several ante-natal clinics, but were not entirely successful owing
to lack of space and administrative difficulties.
It is hoped that this aspect of Health Education work can be
considerably extended. It presents a fruitful field for endeavour,
at a time, when information is particularly valuable. Lack of
adequate premises has been a handicap in the past, but this difficulty
can and should be overcome.
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