Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:83 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his Department's plans for the promotion of fitness and healthy lifestyle for 1992.
Written Answers. - Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle.
The health promotion unit in my Department undertake and co-ordinate programmes aimed at improving health and fitness as part of a broad health promotion strategy which encompasses a range of issues such as lifestyle, drugs, AIDS, nutrition and alcohol. Since exercise and keeping fit are recognised as integral parts of any healthy lifestyle programme it features prominently in the health promotion unit's programme for 1992.
Lifewise is a community-based lifestyle programme for adults which commenced in the Mid-Western Health Board in 1990. An exercise routine is an important element of this ten week programme. The programme is adaptable and has been used in educational and occupational as well as community settings with various groups, including parents, the elderly and the disadvantaged. Given the success of this programme in the Mid-Western Health Board and the increasing public interest in participating, a number of other health boards, namely, Midland, Southern, North-Eastern and South-Eastern and the Irish Countrywomen's Association are involved in extending the programme to their areas. A national co-ordinating committee has been established which is developing and refining the programme.
A health-related fitness programme, Action for Life, is being developed by the Physical Education Association of Ireland with financial support from the health promotion unit. This programme will be completed during the current year when materials will be printed and made available to physical education teachers in all schools.
A primary and post-primary competition, Health is Lookin' Good, which is now in its third successive year, will focus this year on keeping fit, nutrition and substance misuse as its three themes for 1992. Participating pupils and their teachers will be provided with materials on each of the health themes, together with useful suggestions on how related health promotion activities can be incorporated into normal class activities.
An important school-based programme — The Healthy School — involving both primary and second level schools will commence in autumn 1992. The programme will address the ingredients of a health promoting school and examine how best these can be interwoven into normal school activities. Fitness and healthy lifestyle will be part of this programme.
As part of an intersectoral approach to health and fitness, the health promotion unit, in co-operation with Cospóir, AGE and Opportunity and the Retirement Planning Association are organising a programme of activities for the "Be Active Be Alive" week this year. The programme will include a range of community-based activities which will run during the month of May and will demonstrate that keeping fit and healthy can be achieved without much effort or exertion. The unit has also supported a walking project in association with the Dublin Healthy Cities Committee and Saol Plus. This project was launched last autumn.
The unit also produces a range of printed materials and videos on fitness and healthy lifestyle which are available to teachers, health professionals and work-places organising health and fitness programmes and to the general public on request.