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12
HEALTH EDUCATION.
The new edition of the Handbook of Suggestions on Health Education, issued by the Board
of Education has been distributed to all the schools. It well illustrates the variety of means by
which Hygiene may be taught to school children.
While the School Medical Staff does not take formal part in the work of teaching hygiene,
a considerable amount of informal help is given by the doctors and the school nurses. The medical
inspection itself is a method of instruction which is likely to leave an impression of educational value
on the minds of the school children. It enables the doctor to teach them individually and affords
him the opportunity to give health advice to the parents, a large percentage of whom attend the
medical inspection of their children at some stage during their school life. The work of the school
nurses is largely devoted to instilling by practical means good habits of personal hygiene into the
children, and the cleanliness surveys they carry-out are not only a particularly arresting method of
health education to the children but also to the parents.
The medical treatment at the Health Centres is also of educational value to the boys and girls
who attend, and parents who visit the Centres also learn much in regard to the health and general
care of their children. A school for mothers is held daily at the Health Centres during the afternoons
and a short talk is given either by one of the Assistant Medical Officers or by a school nurse. These
talks cover a wide range of subjects pertaining to Health in its broadest sense. Last year at the three
Health Centres, 378 individual mothers attended the school.
Copies of Better Health, the official journal of the Central Council for Health Education are
available at the Health Centres for mothers and school children to take home and this periodical is
circulated monthly to all head teachers for their use in the schools.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
241,905 meals were supplied in 1934 as compared with 197,338 in 1933, 197,821 in 1932, 138,361
in 1931, and 119,831 in 1930.
The recipients of these meals are mainly children of the unemployed, widows and deserted
wives.
HOME NURSING SERVICE.
The Home Nurse employed by the Council nursed 404 cases during the year, and in connection
with such cases paid 3,819 visits. 1,096 of these visits were paid in the South Kilburn Ward, 968 in
the Mid-Kilburn Ward, 494 in the North Kilburn Ward, 239 in the Roundwood Ward, 323 in the
Stonebridge Ward, 114 in the Willesden Green Ward, 282 in the Cricklewood Ward and smaller
numbers in the other wards of Willesden.
Of the 404 cases nursed during the year, 387 were new cases. 337 of these 387 new cases were
referred by the Health Department for nursing, 20 by private doctors and 30 by Hospitals,
Associations and private persons.
Ophthalmia neonatorum received 140 visits and other ophthalmia cases 650 visits.
SANITARY WORK.
The number of houses in Willesden at the end of 1934 was 32,125. (Flats contained under
one roof being counted as one house.)
During the year the total number of inspections and re-inspections made by the Sanitary
Staff was 28,677 as compared with 21,290 in 1933.
The houses inspected under the Housing Acts numbered 1,403 as compared with 870 in 1933.
The number of complaints received, 2,266 is higher than in 1933.
The total number of Notices issued and nuisances abated were 5,383, and 22,039 respectively.
Work done under the Housing Acts is shown in the tabular statement in the body of the report.
Of the twelve houses closed as unfit for human habitation in 1925, the 6 remaining in 1933 have
now been demolished.
The above is exclusive of work carried out in connection with Clearance Areas.
Clearance and Improvement Areas.—In accordance with Circular 1331, a programme of
work was considered by the Housing Act, 1930 Committee and submitted to the Council, 25th July,
1933. This, however, was referred back for expansion and an amended programme was approved
by the Council 13th October, 1933, and forwarded to the Minister of Health.
During the year 9 areas were declared by the Council to be Clearance Areas.