A series of free Healthy Ireland events with Croí on the Galway islands recently proved to be a big hit, drawing big crowds interested in living well.
Over 200 people took part in events with Croí Heart & Stroke across the Aran Islands and Inishbofin, with strong participation from local schools.
The events involved health screenings e.g. pulse, blood pressure, weight, and BMI checks, as well as dietary tips on health eating, yoga; relationship and sexual health education, resources on mental health and wellness, exercise and fitness tips, citizen information advice and more.
“This initiative was a coming together of diverse community groups all with a unified aim to promote health and well-being throughout the islands off County Galway,” said Suzanne Seery, Lead Dietitian with Croí.
She added that it was a “great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle across all age groups.”
Healthy Ireland is a government led initiative that aims to bring together local organisations across the country with the goal of promoting physical and mental health.
This series of events taking place across the Galway islands were a collaboration of Croí Heart & Stroke Charity, Galway Rural Development, Healthy Ireland at your Library, the Western Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce, Galway Sports Partnership, Galway Citizen Information Centre, Irish Rural Link, Pieta House, and AIDS West.
For Croí’s part, Suzanne Seery said that these kinds of events are ideal for them as many of the health conditions involving heart disease and stroke are preventable.
“Our aim is to offer individuals the opportunity to engage in risk factor screening along with offering practical advice in relation to healthy eating, physical activity, overall health and wellness and lots more,” she added.
The Healthy Ireland Fund is supported by the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
