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7
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
East Ham.
May, 1938.
Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my Annual Report on
the health of the County Borough of East Ham for the year 1937,
together with the Annual Report to the Education Committee on
the work of the School Medical Service.
The benefit to the community of the various health services
is revealed by a close study of the numerous statistics. It will be
seen that the scope of the provisions instituted by the Council for
the prevention of disease and maintenance of health is being
rapidly widened. The increased facilities at the Clinics for supervision
and advice, and other schemes of assistance, have as their
object the preservation of health, and are, in addition, of real
social service to the Borough. Measures for the improvement of
physique and the attainment of physical fitness are now largely
the responsibility of the local authority.
Although the figures for the previous year were very satisfactory,
I am pleased to report a steady improvement in almost
all respects. There is a lessened incidence of disease generally,
and the low mortality rates—in some infectious diseases completely
absent—are a striking feature of the Report.
The infant mortality and maternal death rates were still
further reduced.
Reference to Table 41, page 111a wherein is given for comparison
information relative to County Boroughs of similar populations,
shows remarkable figures for this Borough. It must be
acknowledged that such results can only be achieved by a comprehensive
and active health service, and by minute attention to
detail in both its administrative and clinical aspects.
The year has been eventful in other respects—the appointment
of Municipal Midwives under the Midwives' Act, 1936, has