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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Action Plan.

Question:

72 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he has taken to ensure that the efforts of his Department and health boards to promote the vital role of nutrition in tackling health inequalities are implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9938/00]

The Health Promotion Unit of my Department has run a very successful Annual National Healthy Eating Campaign since 1995. This year, £250,000 has been allocated for the year long campaign which will commence with Healthy Eating Week – 7-13 May. The theme of this year's campaign is Help your heart – Go for Low Fat Healthy Eating and will target the lower socio-economic groups in society.

The Health Promotion Unit is also involved in a number of developments in the area of child nutrition. A nutrition education at primary schools (NEAPS) programme has been developed by the Unit in conjunction with the Department of Education and Science and the North Western Health Board. This programme, which is aimed at 3rd and 4th class levels in primary school, is available for distribution to all primary schools through the health boards. The aim of the programme is to improve the level of nutritional knowledge in children and to develop the skills necessary to enable them to use that knowledge to implement change with respect to their own wellbeing. An evaluation of the NEAPS programme has found it to be very successful.

The Health Promotion Unit, in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board, has developed a peer led nutrition education project among low income groups called "Food & Health". The programme uses a peer-led community development approach and is aimed at low income women who are primarily responsible for food shopping and cooking within the home. Following evaluation of the project it is planned to make the programme available nationally.

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