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42
"The 'building up' process of a new service takes time,
but already the Health Education Section is well equipped
and will, it is hoped, be used by increasing numbers of staff
and outside organisations.
One of the main objectives in health education is to make
people aware of their health needs and through special skills
enable them to act upon new knowledge in order to change
attitudes and behaviour.
There are many problems — it is no easy task to change
preconceived ideas — it is even difficult to persuade anybody
of the need for change. Another difficulty is to find out the
naeds of a community and to assess the work that has been
carried out. Health education permeates through many activities
— it is right that this should be so. In order to make the
work meaningful communications and reporting systems need
to be effective and continuous. Then the environment needs to
such that basic health education principles can be carried outit
is useless, for example, teaching principles of hygiene
when there are no facilities for practising them. The climate
of opinion must be right so that people will be willing to
learn — in a subject as personal as health, none of us like to
feel we 'don't know'. None of these problems are insurmountable
— we need time.
Much of the routine work has continued as before and
talks, lectures, film shows and "mothercraft" courses are
given either by the health visitors, or with their co-operation
at Relaxation classes, toddlers clinics, mothers clubs and at
local hospitals either as part of a nurse training course or to
patients attending clinics. An example of this is a regular
course of nine lectures on 'Parentcraft' given to prospective
parents at Ilford Maternity Hospital. A wide range of topics
are discussed which could be of special benefit to the mother
and young child.
Smoking and Health — Lectures and talks on this subject
are given whenever requested. Publicity material is distributed
throughout the Borough. A report by Dr. Taylor on his project
in the schools will appear elsewhere.
Venereal Disease — Courses have been organised for
head teachers and teaching staffs and it was felt that this
subject could well form part of a general health education
programme in the schools.