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to note that the social life of these people is being integrated gradually if very slowly with
the social activities of the rest of the community, and that the Indian Workers Association
shows a keen interest in the obtaining and distribution of health information and teaching.
The implementation of the Clean Air Act has meant that an enormous amount of
work has to be carried out in the inspection of houses and in the helping of citizens to
understand their rights and duties when they live in an area under a Smoke Control
Order.
An exceptionally wet year with periods of heavy storm resulted in short periods of
flooding in a few parts of the Borough, and as a result the Borough Council concentrated
on an increase in the provision of surface water and sewage disposal facilities.
Housing and the overcrowding of houses still remained a problem in 1960. There is
very little spare land available for building within the Borough, and so Council rehousing
of overcrowded families still can proceed only very slowly, while the transfer of families
to the New Towns becomes also very difficult as these towns begin to reach saturation
point.
The year was a satisfactory one with regard to the hygiene of food. This can be
judged by the fact that food poisoning was confined to one patient only and on only three
occasions were articles of unsound food brought to the Public Health Department. The
figures supplied by the County Control Officer also showed good results for the sampling
of food from shops in Southall or from multiple stores or manufacturers whose products
are sold in Southall.
In spite of all the health education, national and local, it seems very difficult to educate
the public against the throwing about of litter and waste food, and to this can be attributed
the fact that the amount of work required for the control of rats and mice was increased
during 1960. Persons who carelessly throw waste food about in streets and public
places, who leave dustbins half open or with food strewn around, and owners of private
premises, shops or factories who do not exercise sufficient care in the storage of food
need to realise that the killing of flies and of rodents is not the best method of preventing
the illnesses which can result from their presence. The only safe and sure way is to give
no opportunity for them to breed, and in the absence of food they will not breed.
I would like to thank the members of the staff of the Public Health Department for
all the work they do during the year and in the preparation of this report, and for their
loyal support at all times.
I am, Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
Medical Officer of Health.
Manor House, Southall.
Telephone Numbers:
SOU 3621-2.
SOU 5060.
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