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To the Chairman and Members of the Chigwell
Urban District Council
THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS,
I have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report of the Medical
Officer of Health for the year 1968, which includes the Annual Report of
the Chief Public Health Inspector. This Report is compiled in accordance
with the Public Health Regulations 1959 and Ministry of Health Circular 1/69.
Health Education was continued as opportunities arose. Films and
discussions were arranged in schools on the hazards of cigarette smoking and
other subjects. Elderly citizens were advised on the importance of regular
checks on their eyesight, hearing, feet and on the lighting, floor-coverings
and other amenities of their homes, with a view to reducing the risk of
accidents and increased dependence on others with advancing age. I am
convinced that retired people have an important and useful part to play in
helping each other, and in the training of their grandchildren in good
habits of personal hygiene, feeding and behaviour while "baby-sitting".
All too often, these useful opportunities are wasted in front of the
television set watching advertisements for sugary and starchy foods, and
eating too many sweets at the same time,
VITAL STATISTICS
The health of the population continues to be satisfactory. There
was a further small fall in the birth-rate, but there were more deaths than
in the previous year, mainly due to coronary disease and pneumonia.
CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Under new Regulations, infective jaundice (hepatitis) has become
notifiable, mainly for the purpose of knowing to what extent, if any, this
condition is being spread by the use of hypodermic syringes by drug addicts
or others. None of the 5 cases notified were attributable to this cause.
Immunisation against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus,
poliomyelitis, smallpox and tuberculosis have all shown increases over
the previous year, and the only notifications among these diseases were
22 of whooping cough and 6 of measles.
The new measles vaccine was given to 659 children in the
District without ill-effect, but the scheme has had a setback, owing to
doubts concerning the safety of a small number of batches of the vaccine
issued. The number of measles cases was certainly less than anticipated,
and it is therefore hoped that the present setback will be temporary.
/The
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