View report page

51
HEALTH EDUCATION
Following last years comments on health education of the adult male,
preretirement health was featured in the health department exhibit at the
Civic Delegate Conference. Statistics for Harrow showed that in the age
group 45-55 years the percentage of total male deaths from all causes in
1966, which were due to cardio-vascular diseases was 46.25%, compared
with a figure of 17.4% in 1937. Obesity, heavy smoking, excess alcohol
and lack of exercise, are four contributory factors, all of which can be
controlled by the individual.
By comparison the proportion of deaths in women of the same age
group from the same causes has dropped from 17.7% to 12.8%—perhaps
an indication that the fashion conscious woman of today is more diet
conscious than her husband, who probably pays more attention to the
inner workings of his automobile than his own body.
Mental Health Week was inaugurated with a coffee morning in
Sopers restaurant—again a "sell out" when the Mayor and 180 representatives
of local organisations met the serious side of Mr. Derek Nimmo,
who opened the week. This year it was decided to take the exhibition to the
public, and thanks to the generous co-operation of Messrs Kodak Limited
a mobile exhibition and information centre toured the Borough, spending
a day in each of six shopping centres. Even so it was still difficult to lure the
public in, although those interested were often surprised to learn what the
department was doing in the field of community care. All the Council's
mental health establishments held open days during the week and visits
were arranged to Shenley and Leavesden Mental Hospitals. Talks were
also given to senior students at local secondary schools.
Further progress was made in health education in schools, more of
which took advantage of the talks or courses which were available from
health department personnel. In the past most of these have been directed
to secondary students, but during the year, last year pupils in two primary
schools received instruction in personal health and hygiene from the
health visitors, which involved sex education. Sex education is never dealt
with in isolation, but is always integrated into such a course. Parents at
one primary school who were invited to preview the films shown were most
enthusiastic, and no-one took the opportunity of opting their child out of
the talk. Their comments showed that some were only too pleased to have
the onus removed from themselves. There is no doubt that the age 10-11,
before menstruation and other changes associated with puberty occur, is a
good time to introduce this subject, the child not being emotionally
involved.
The Principal School Dental Officer extended what is now an annual
dental campaign to cover a further eight thousand children of all ages in
the Edgware, Kenton and Stanmore districts, involving ninety-six talks by
a team of speakers from dental clinics within the Borough. Miss Land from