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and art of healthy living and to promote the principles of hygiene and encourage
the teaching thereof ; and (6) assist and co-ordinate the work of all statutory bodies
in carrying out their powers and duties under the Public Health Acts and other
statutes relating to the promotion or safeguarding of Public Health or the prevention
or cure of disease in so far as such work comprises health education
and propaganda."
The Central Council is an incorporated body composed of representatives of
Government Departments, of Local Government, of National Health Insurance,
of Professional Organisations and of Voluntary Societies engaged in health propaganda
work. It is able to furnish expert advice on the best methods of health education.
It organises health weeks ; it provides posters for display ; it distributes films and
leaflets ; it prepares press articles ; it provides an official journal, " Better Health " ;
it issues a Year Book collating information relating to health propaganda ; it holds
an Annual Health Education Conference and it maintains a permanent propaganda
exhibition.
In short it co-ordinates the work of all Bodies whose propaganda is a matter of
public health. The Borough Council makes an annual contribution of three guineas
to its funds.
(i) Better Health.—This is the official journal of the Central Council for
Health Education. It contains popular articles and memoranda on personal and
public health. The Borough Council purchase each month 2,000 copies and distribute
them through the welfare centres, tuberculosis dispensaries, public libraries
and schools. A number are posted to residents in the Borough, selected at random.
It is pleasing to note the demand each month for this medium for arousing and
maintaining interest in public health news.
(j) Posters.—The immense amount of space devoted to poster advertising
on hoardings is a sign of the value placed thereon by commercial undertakings. The
same value presumably may be placed on this type of display in connection with
health propaganda work. The Council therefore have made use of the poster service
of the Central Council for Health Education and arranged for the display of two
sets of posters each month on wooden poster frames previously used by the Empire
Marketing Board. In June and July four such sets were posted, the London County
Council having given permission to the Council to use the Boards outside Plumstead
Central and Plumstead High Street Schools, during these two months.
The posters shown during the year were as follows :—
January .. " Don't Take Chances with your Child's Life
(Diphtheria) (C.C.H.E.)
February .. " Building a Healthy People " (C.C.H.E.)
March .. " Do you use the Health Services ? " (C.C.H.E.)