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HEALTH SURVEYS AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SURVEY
School nurses examined children at all primary and second schools.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Two schools had tuberculosis incidents. The close co-operation of the chest physician
and his staff ensured full investigation of all children, discovery of source and early treatment
of cases.
PROPHYLAXIS
82.1 per cent. of school children inspected were recorded as protected against smallpox
90 per cent. of school children were recorded as immunised against diphtheria, 79.8 per cent.
against whooping cough and 89 per cent. against poliomyelitis.
B.C.G. vaccination was carried out on 13 year old children. 1,501 were skin tested and
1,265 given B.C.G. vaccinations. Additionally, students in a number of colleges and institutions
of London University were offered B.C.G. vaccinations.
HEALTH EDUCATION
Health education in schools is part of the comprehensive programme. Assistance was
given in the form of the provision of speakers and discussion leaders, films and the distribution of
leaflets on various topics.
It was encouraging to receive a request from a senior girls school for regular assistance
with health education teaching sessions from one of the full time medical officers, who is particularly
interested in this subject. In conjunction with the Youth Employment Officer, nursing staff attended
a Careers Convention. This afforded the opportunity to offer advice on various topics, such as how
to stop smoking and weight problems, as well as information on the various careers available in
the public health field.
As local links with head teachers are fostered, it is hoped that a more expansive health
education programme will be developed. This might include visits to health establishments and
in-service training courses for teaching staff.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Members of the health department team were asked to co-operate in several research
projects during the course of the year.
SURVEY OF HEIGHTS AND WEIGHTS OF
LONDON SCHOOL CHILDREN
During the autumn term measurements of heights and weights of many London school children
were being taken under the surveillance of Dr. G.M. Tanner of the Institute of Child Health. Additionally,
Camden was asked to negotiate with the headmaster of St.George the Martyr schoolwho kindly arranged
for children to act as subjects for the special anthropometric training for school nurses carrying out
the survey. Measurements of heights and weights taken during the 1959 survey had been made in the
summer term and it was felt that in order to make the results of the current survey statistically comparable
possible seasonal variations should be taken into account. With the guidance of the Divisional
Officer, two secondary schools in Camden were chosen, where measurements would take place throughout
the year.
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