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1
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Tottenham.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit to you my Annual Report
upon the Health Services of the Borough for the year 1939, in a
very abridged form owing to much additional pressure of work in
connection with Civil Defence. The Ministry of Health have, in
fact, directed that during the period of War, the Annual Reports
of Medical Officers of Health should be curtailed as far as
possible and confined to the presentation of essential material.
The outbreak of the War in September, 1939, came at
the end of a year marked by highly satisfactory conditions from
a health point of view, with the lowest Infantile Mortality Rate
in the Borough's history of 37.95, a General Death Rate of 10.3,
and a year completely free from serious outbreak of infectious
disease. After the first few weeks of necessary adjustment
to War conditions, the Health Services of the Borough generally
returned to their pre-war level, except for the cancellation of
a Public Inquiry which was to be held in October concerning
Clearance Orders under the Housing Acts with respect to 8 areas;
and. the building of a new Municipal Medical Centre by the
Education Committee' at Cornwall Road. The building of the New
Municipal Day Nursery and Medical Centre at Park Lane was,
however, well advanced, and since its official opening early in
1940, has proved to be a valuable asset to the Medical Services
which have been extended rather than limited by War Conditions.
No details can be given in this Report of additional
duties in connection with the Casualty Services, war damage repair
of residential property, Billeting. and Care of Per ons rendered
homeless as the result of enemy action, the organisation for
which took up.much time of the Department in the early months of
the War.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the Borough
Council for their support and encouragement, and to record my
highest admiration of the excellent team spirit shown by my staff
under extremely trying circumstances.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
Gsaillani Aogham
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Tottenham, N.15.
1st March, 1941