“Take some simple steps to improve your health.” This is the call to action from local heart and stroke charity Croí, which has teamed up with the HSE in Mayo to launch the inaugural Mayo Healthy Living Month which takes place during May.
Mayo Healthy Living Month is a health promotion initiative by Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation and Mayo Primary, Community and Continuing Care, HSE West, and will involve a programme of events across the county aimed at encouraging all age-groups to focus on their health during May and make some lifestyle changes in order to live longer and healthier lives.
Launched on Monday last (April 23 ) as part of their Mayo Action on Heart Disease & Stroke programme, Croí and Mayo PCCC, HSE West have put together a schedule of events including a healthy eating cookery demo, organised walks, an opportunity to learn the skills of CPR, and a school essay competition for secondary school students.
Mayo Action on Heart Disease & Stroke is a community-based prevention programme which aims to reduce the impact of heart disease and stroke in Mayo.
Announcing details of this initiative, Croí nurse lead for the Mayo Action on Heart Disease & Stroke programme, Ailish Houlihan, said: “Following the release last year of our findings of the ‘Heart Smart’ cardiac risk factor screening programme, which found that as many as one in five Mayo adults are at high-risk of cardiovascular disease, our work has centred on developing initiatives to reduce this risk in the community and empower individuals to make healthier choices in order to improve their overall health.” She continued: “Making changes to our lifestyle such as healthier eating, getting more active and quitting smoking can have a positive influence on our health and the Mayo Healthy Living Month provides an opportunity to communicate this message and make Mayo a healthier place to live for ourselves and for our families and friends.”
Speaking about the Mayo Healthy Living Month, Mayo PCCC general manager Martin Greaney said: “I commend the partnerships and collaborations that are involved in bringing this initiative to fruition. The development of this initiative has seen many key agencies in Mayo coming together to promote healthy living and I would like to especially thank Mayo Education Centre, Mayo County Council, Mayo Sports Partnership, and our media partners for their involvement. This multi-agency approach to health promotion will ensure we create sustainable health initiatives here in Mayo into the future.”
A number of organisations across the county are getting onboard and joining the Mayo Healthy Living Month initiative in promoting healthy living to their staff and local communities. Further updates will be available during May.
Joining the Mayo Healthy Living Month this week:
1. Organised walks in Charlestown: An information evening on these organised walks will take place in the CBD Sports Complex in Charlestown on Monday April 30 at 8pm. This initiative is being organised by local fitness instructor Geraldine Finn in association with the Charlestown primary care team.
2. Staff initiative: The staff at Staunton’s Pharmacies (Main St, Link, and New Antrim St ), Health Food Store, Kodak Express, and Costcutter Express in Castlebar are getting their walking shoes on and getting active during May with a number of staff walks including Lough Lannagh, Castlebar Ring Road, and the Booster Station. They are wished the best of luck.
