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infantile mortality rate i.e. the death of infants under the age
of one year, rose from 20 71 to 30.4. I would however again
stress that the totals involved are much too small to provide us
with yearly variations which can be accorded any real significance.
I would once more emphasize that every infant death is carefully
investigated in an effort to discover the cause and, if possible.
suggest the appropriate remedy.
The vital statistics for 1960 as I have said, indicate a
placid year with no major occurrences. Taking a long-term view
and considering every relating aspect of health, 1960 can, I
suggest, be regarded as a satisfactory year.
The significance of health education in the vast field of
public health is now an established fact. In the latter part of
1960 a 16mm. film projector was purchased by the Council for health
education This is proving of immense value as a positive method
of health propaganda, since it is already a proven fact that
local organisations will invite a speaker if they know that his
talk will be supported by the showing of a film more readily than
if the speaker intended to give a talk only.
The public generally speaking is still to a great extent
oblivious of the work being carried out in the sphere of public
health on its behalf. That is why health education has such a
vital role to play. The fruits of this work are shown by the
very large numbers of the public who have taken advantage of
poliomyelitis immunisation. Every method of bringing to the
public factors of topical interest must be pursued; and every
endeavour, by all means available, must be made to stress the
fundamental principles upon which the healthy individual and
community are based. Health education is as far as possible
projected at those age groups and sections of the community which
are most in need of it, without making the cardinal mistake of
always speaking to the converted and so neglecting those groups
which are most difficult to reach. Our programme of health education
in Wood Green is, I venture to say reasonably comprehensive.
During the year, at the Wood Green Horticultural Show, a Mass
X-ray Unit and Mobile Polio Clinic was sited in the Show grounds.
This, so far as we are aware had never been tried anywhere before,
and proved an immense success
I would take this opportunity of thanking the Health and
Cleansing Committee and the Council for their sustained help
and encouragement, without which our programme of health education
could never have been carried out. I am satisfied that we are
working along the right lines, although I am not convinced that
we have yet fully explored all available avenues. We will continue
our policy of exploration until we can be reasonably sure
that the public is fully informed on all matters concerning their
health and well-being- the terms are not synonymous - and that
no section of the community has been overlooked.
As Medical Officer of Health, I was extremely glad when I
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