DEVELOPMENT PROFILES

Smoking Cessation Community Grants

A small grants scheme has been developed within the EHSSB to enable community organisations to apply for funding to help develop smoking cessation or prevention programmes. The maximum amount that can be funded is £3,000. In 2004/05 some of the projects, which received funding included arts and drama workshops, a smoking awareness production, specialist smoking cessation services including alternative therapies.

" Healthwise" Physical Activity Referral Initiative

The Eastern Board along with its partners in the Eastern Physical Activity Co-ordination Group, (EPACG), have developed a system of referral in the board area for those patients suffering with a serious health risk or condition, to be given the opportunity to sample the benefits of a structured programme of physical activity and guidance.

This initiative involves a process of referral from a suitable, registered health professional, (including primary care teams, secondary care units and allied health professionals), to trained staff based at each of the local council run facilities in the area. Here, clients will receive an individually tailored programme of physical activity, suitable for the specific nature of their own unique condition or health risk and benefit from the knowledge and experience of the professional staff.

Through ‘Healthwise’, EPACG aim to promote an innovative and proactive approach to health, which will help to tackle many key health issues prevalent in Northern Ireland today. These conditions include asthma, diabetes, heart disease, mental health, high blood pressure, obesity and many more.

Receiving inadequate rewards for the effort put into work has been found to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Rewards can take the form of money, status and self-esteem.
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Health studies have shown that exposure to high levels of radon gas is linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. The risk to smokers from exposure to high levels of radon is much larger than that for non-smokers.
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The Young Person's Behaviour and Attitudes Survey 2000 showed that:
- 48% of young people were doing less than two hours of vigorous physical activity a week
- 61% are more active during school holidays compared to when they are at school
- 81% of pupils exercise or play sports apart from their time tabled PE sessions.
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