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114
The editors of both the local newspapers were visited personally
and their co-operation invited on health education campaigns. The
"Ilford Recorder" carried an excellent editorial on the advantages of
fluoridation, whilst the "Pictorial" published readers' letters on
this topic for many weeks. The "Pictorial" also had a recent frontpage
feature on the dangers of smoking. The value of the local
newspaper as an educational medium cannot be over-emphasised.
There is regular contact between the Medical Officer of Health and
both papers on health topics of national and local interest.
At the end of January a circular letter was sent to all secondary
schools offering a course of six talks to be given by health
department staff. A synopsis of the course is as follows:-
1. Personal Hygiene - Good grooming for young people
Skin, hair and foot health
Food hygiene
2. Hazards to Health — Basic nutrition and the dangers of
obesity
Smoking and lung cancer
Road and home accidents
Prevention of tooth decay
3. Human Reproduction — Anatomy and physiology
Venereal diseases
4. Human Reproduction — Problems of adolescence
Relationships between boys and
girls
The case against promiscuity
5. Parenthood — The birth of a baby
infant care
Responsibilities of parents
6. Child Psychology — The emotional needs of children
Behaviour disorders
Child/Parent relationships
This course was felt to be fairly comprehensive, and covered
the most important aspects of health and hygiene likely to be of
interest to young people between the ages of 13 and 15. The acceptance
rate by the schools was encouraging, and the following schools
have been, or will be, visited:-