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2 per cent (l in 50) of working-class women who have borne children
might expect to develop cancer of the womb (cervix) in present conditions.
Curative treatment is often possible if the condition is
detected at an early stage. Firms employing women in the borough
were circularised urging the value of these preventive health investigations
for women over the age of 35 years. A pelvic examination
and a cervical smear (Papanicolau technique) is undertaken, by
appointment, at the clinic.
This year the Council became affiliated to the Home Safety Section
of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, advantage being
taken of the purchase of publicity material made available by that
body which was used in a campaign held during the month of July.
Publicity was also given to the Council's Holiday Centre by means
of advertisements in the Press, slides shown in local cinemas, posters
and leaflets. A campaign on the relationship between smoking and
health was also carried out. Vacant sites in the borough were posted
up with notices warning the public against depositing rubbish and also
against the use of the land as caravan sites.
Publicity was given to other subjects including diphtheria immunisation;
vaccination against poliomyelitis; food hygiene; influenza,
and the care of the elderly.
HOLIDAY CENTRE
During the year 1,137 Stepney residents spent a holiday at the
Council's Holiday Centre, The Manor House, Sandgate, near Folkestone,
Kent; this number included 723 aged persons and 14.6 children. The
total number of weekly bookings was 1,268.
The Holiday Centra is open all the year round and is available
to any resident of the Borough, young and old — half the total accommodation
is alloted to the latter each week. Coach transport is
provided to and from the Manor House and the Public Health Department.
The management and control of the Holiday Centre are vested in
the Council's Physical Training and Recreation Committee, and the
day-to-day administration is the responsibility of the Medical Officer
of Health.
Difficulty is experienced in getting residents of the Borough
to use the facilities for a holiday in the Winter. It is appreciated
that because of work and school commitments families with children
cannot take advantage of the holiday centre, but one might consider
that old people would welcome a winter holiday. The intensive publicity
measures taken in the autumn (referred to above) as well as
personal contact by the department's Hygiene Officers have resulted
in only a slight improvement in winter bookings.
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