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HEALTH EDUCATION
Health Education is an essential part of the day-to-day work of the Public
Health Department. Every householder at home, every visitor to the Department
the management and workers in factories, the owners and food handlers in shops
and cafes, hotels and public houses, all receive items of information which are
part of the plan of healthy living whenever they come in contact with any members
of the staff This is still the best and most penetrating and lasting method
of disseminating health education, but naturally every member of the public does
not, even once a year perhaps, have a conversation with a health worker either
from the Health Department proper or from the County Health staff who are also
able to advise on health matters. A considerable number each year have occasion
to visit private practitioners and hospitals, and here again as the importance
of prevention is becoming more apparent to medical men and nurses not working
directly in the field of preventive medicine, more thought is being given to
the advice on health which can be introduced along with the provision of treatment.
To reach the people in a more general way poster and leaflet campaigns on
topical subjects are carried out. Subjects covered in 1960 included Clean Food,
prevention of the spread of colds. Home Safety and special warnings about broken
glass on posters, on envelope stickers and in leaflets.
Talks were given to local organisations who wished to have speakers on
specific subjects at their meetings. It is usual at these talks to allow plenty
of time for questions so that problems of individuals can be solved and in the
solving, the other participants of the meeting get additional health education.
It is found that this type of approach, which is more a form of group discussion
than a public lecture, tends to leave stronger impressions on the participants.
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