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SECTION II.—HEALTH PROPAGANDA.
Parliamentary enactments lose much of their value if they are merely enforced
by Local Authorities and the co-operation of individual members of the public is
not obtained, and, in the same way, measures taken by any Health Department
have a limited field of usefulness unless this co-operaton exists. Much depends
upon personal effort. For this reason health education is now regarded as a permanent
service—first of all to assist the public in having a better knowledge of their local
health services; secondly, to tell them the laws of health, and, thirdly, to bring
home to them their own personal responsibilities in the matter.
Experience has shown the importance of educating the public in matters of
health, and that full value cannot be obtained for the money spent on health services
without such action.
In addition to the activities outlined in the following paragraphs, which deal
briefly with the propaganda work of the Council during the year, advice is given
daily by the Council's Health Visitors, Sanitary Inspectors and Tuberculosis Visitors
in their home visits, and in a similar way at the Welfare Centres, Tuberculosis Dispensaries
and in the Department.
Much free literature, including a 16-page booklet on the Council's Health
Services, is distributed every year, and as much use as possible is made of the letterpress
and pictorial posters.
The Council's activities may be classified as follows:—
(a) Health Week.—The ninth local Health Week was held in October, and
the following is a copy of the report made by the Public Health Committee to the
Council:—
"In accordance with the resolution of the 26th July, 1933, we made arrangements
for holding a local Health Week from October 23rd to the 28th. The inaugural
feature of the week was the opening of the Health Centre at Plumstead. There was
a good attendance at the opening meeting. In addition to members of the Council,
there were present representatives of the London County Council, School Care
Committee Workers, Head Teachers of Plumstead Schools, Members of the School
Medical Committee, representatives from surrounding Boroughs and voluntary
workers,