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Both the health education staff and health visitors try constantly
to do this by teaching programmes in schools. Unhappily shortage of
time confines such teaching to High Schools at the moment where,
although the content of the talks is clearly more advanced, the chances
of establishing correct health attitudes are correspondingly less because
of the age of the pupils.
It is encouraging, however, to find that schools are becoming
increasingly aware of the opportunities offered by the health education
service. This has meant ever-growing requests for advice to teachers
on how to incorporate health education into their own curricula, as
well as for literature and visual aids. Recognising the importance of
this side of their work, the health education service meet all requests
to the best of their ability.
YOUTH CLUBS also call increasingly on the health education
service. As many of the calls come from the members and not merely
from the leaders (and thus do not comprise ' captive audiences') they
are always responded to. Since youth clubs consist mainly of adolescents,
many of the requests were for information on matters relating
to sex. Such lectures attracted large audiences.
It is pleasing to record that reports show that an increased sense
of responsibility and consideration had occurred in the attitudes of
many of the young people who attended.
Training
The need to train others to follow in the footsteps of the present
incumbents is always uppermost in the minds of all concerned in this
work.
Thus, the Health Education Officer, in addition to her other
duties, gives lectures at a Teacher Training College and a Midwife
Teacher Training College. She also helps in the training of student
nurses and midwives while they are attached to the community
nursing services.
Displays and Exhibitions
The Health Department's contribution to this year's Civic Exhibition
covered Food Hygiene and the Prevention of SexuallyTransmitted
Diseases.
Displays and exhibitions on selected topics were also held in
clinics throughout the Borough.
Young Wives' Groups
These functions are among the most popular of those organised
by the health education service. The groups meet at clinics in various
parts of the Borough, either during the afternoon (when play and care
are provided for their children) or in the evening. A wide range of
subjects discussed informally is arranged by the health education staff.
There is no doubt that the benefits derived from this kind of gettogether
are considerable, if only in an increased ability to communicate
with other people.
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