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9
Dysentery
One case of dysentery was notified during 1961, compared
with forty-four cases the previous year. It is hoped
this improvement will be maintained. However, it should
be noted that Dysentery is a disease in which it is practically
impossible to draw conclusions about trends from
year to year. The main reasons for this are either (i)
notification of cases on clinical grounds alone without bacteriological
confirmation or (ii) during an epidemic the nonnotification
of all the cases occurring in a particular
household.
Maternal Mortality
There was one maternal death during the year. This
was due to toxaemia which developed about the twentyeighth
week of pregnancy in a young woman who had only
recently moved into the district.
Health Education
Health Education is very much a personal affair and
seems to have a much greater impact when treated on an
individual basis rather than on the group. The inspectors
always make use of the individual approach when the opportunity
presents itself during the follow-up of infectious
diseases etc. in the home. Full use was also made during
the year of pamphlets and posters issued from time to time
by the Ministry of Health. The Department also co-operated
fully with any request from the Area Medical Officer to
display health education material.
National Assistance Act, 1948—Section 47
It was not found necessary to take action under the
National Assistance Act in respect of persons requiring care
and attention. During the year my attention was brought
to the case of an elderly gentleman who was living in deplorable
circumstances in some old property scheduled for
demolition. These old people are usually very unco-operative
and suspicious of any offers of help and assistance
made to them—this old man was no exception! However,
after several visits with the Chief Public Health Inspector
and the Area Welfare Officer we managed to persuade him
to accept a vacancy in one of the County Council's Old
Peoples' Homes and no action under Section 47 was required.
I may add that this is the usual pattern in dealing with
this type of case. Every effort is made to solve the problem
using the Home Help Service, the Home Nursing Service,