Written Answers. - Breast Cancer Awareness.
Mary Coughlan
Ceist:
135
Miss Coughlan
asked the
Minister for Health
if he will consider an information campaign in conjunction with the Department of Education, in relation to breast cancer for all second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department has no plans to develop a specific information campaign for second-level schools in relation to breast cancer. However, the topic of breast cancer is covered as an integaral part of broader cancer prevention programmes which are based on the ten point European Code Against Cancer. When formulating and devising all school health education programmes, my Department in conjunction with the Department of Education and the Irish Cancer Society always takes cognisance of these points. This European Code Against Cancer advocates that certain cancers may be avoided if a person refrains from smoking, moderates their consumption of alcoholic drinks and maintains a balanced and sensible diet.
To this end the Health Promotion Unit of my Department has been involved in the development of a number of initiatives which encourage second-level students to exercise responsibility regarding their health and choose the healthy option. These initiatives relate generally to lifestyle but also include specific references to cancer relevant areas such as tobacco, alcohol misuse and diet.
They include the following:
(a) International Conference on Health Education and Cancer Prevention in Schools
As part of the European Commission's Europe Against Cancer Prevention Programme, my Department in conjunction with the Department of Education hosted an International Conference on Health Education and Cancer Prevention in Schools in Dublin in February 1990. During this conference recommendations emerged as to how the school can encourage and support the individual to adopt a health lifestyle and thus prevent the onset of many of today's lifestyle-related illnesses, particularly cancers.
In 1991, my Department, together with the Department of Education and the Irish Cancer Society hosted an Irish Conference on Health Education and Cancer Prevention in schools. This conference was attended by a wide range of teachers interested in the areas of health education.
Participants at this conference made many recommendations for the promotion of cancer prevention education in schools. It was recommended that the concept of the Health Promoting School should underpin all aspects of school life. It was also recommended that school programmes should be based on a holistic and healthy lifestyle approach, while acknowledging the progressive need for pupils to know the biological facts related to the onset of diseases such as cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. These programmes should emphasise the key elements of young people's lifestyles which are particularly vulnerable to influence during the pubertal and adolescent period of development.
Adhering to these recommendations, my Department is currently involved in a number or health education campaigns in second-level schools.
(b) The Health Promotion School Network
The pilot phase of this Programme is currently in a development stage and is a joint initiative between the Health Promotion Unit of my Department and the Psychological Service of the Department of Education. A selection of both primary and second-level schools have been chosen to participate in the Programme which will look at the impact of such issues as school ethos, attitudes of staff and school environment on the implementation of health promotion initiatives. The main aim of the Health Promoting School is to foster healthy environments conducive to the promotion of health.
(c) Smoking Cessation and Reduction Action Programme
This is a peer-led anti-smoking programme currently at the end of the first year of its two year pilot phase. It was developed by my Department's Health Promotion Unit as well as the Psychological Service of the Department of Education, the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Youth Federation. It involves training young people in leadership and facilitation skills in order to enable them to work with their peers on reducing the incidence of smoking in their schools. Peer leaders are supported by a teacher who in turn also received training and support from the management team for the Programme.
(d) Health is Lookin' Good Health Messages Competition
This year saw the fourth year of this highly successful competition. Students in all second-level schools were invited to design a t-shirt or alternatively to compile a radio health message on a Healthy Lifestyle theme. Teachers and students were supplied with relevant health information thus ensuring that all young people might become more aware of the benefits of adhering to a healthy lifestyle.
(e) Dissemination of Information
The Health Promotion Unit of my Department has a wide range of lifestylerelated resource materials available free of charge to the general public. Teachers are encouraged to avail of this facility and order bulk quantities of materials as required. Titles include: You, Drink and Your Life; Smoking and Health; and A Guide to Daily Healthy Food Choices.
(f) Support for Irish Cancer Society Initiatives
The Health Promotion Unit actively supports and assists the Irish Cancer Society in the implementation of schoolbased programmes. The Irish Cancer Society produces a magazine entitled "Choices" which can be used in the classroom as a trigger for discussion on cancer prevention.
From all of the above the Deputy will acknowledge that my Department is involved in many cancer prevention initiatives. However, it is my belief that cancer education should not commence at second-level, but should be tackled at an early stage as part of a broad-based social and health education programme in primary school. For this reason the Health Promotion Unit has been involved in the development of comprehensive primary school health education materials. One such package is "B1 Follain" which has been successfully piloted in the Mid-Western Health Board and is now awaiting wider dissemination.
Consequently I am satisfied that co-operation between my Department and the Department of Education has resulted in the provision of many resources which allow for the area of cancer prevention to receive attention at several stages during any young person's school career.
