CINDI Highlights • Number 8 - Health Promotion Agency

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United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
Dr Brian Gaffney
Programme Director
Among the highlights of 2002 were initiatives on
nutrition, physical activity, drugs and smoking by
the Health Promotion Agency, which coordinates
the CINDI programme work in Northern Ireland.
Nutrition
Many of the year’s initiatives focused on supporting
healthier eating for young people. The Agency worked to
encourage collaboration between the many sectors,
organisations and people who influence food choices.
A report Learning to eat well: nutrition initiatives in schools
detailed healthy eating initiatives in local schools. Getting a good
start - healthy eating from one to five was developed as a nutrition
information booklet for parents. Nutrition matters for the early years
outlined comprehensive guidance for childcare providers. Fresh Fruit
in Schools, featuring the Snack Pack characters, an initiative to provide
a free fresh piece of fruit to children in primary schools, was also launched.
The Agency worked in an advisory capacity with the Department of Education
to support the development of nutritional standards for school meals, and the
community-based nutrition programme Cook It! was revised to include
advances in nutrition knowledge and education.
Physical activity
Work to improve the level of inactivity in the population by facilitating the
Northern Ireland Physical Activity Strategy continued. The third phase of the
‘Get a life, get active’ campaign was also initiated, with the ‘Go walking’
advertisement televised.
Work with the Republic of Ireland led to an all-island physical activity
conference in November. Entitled ‘Getting active together! Promoting good
practice in physical activity’ it identified principles of good practice in physical
activity and explored how all sectors could collaborate to address growing
levels of physical inactivity.
The Health Promotion Agency and a local education board launched Class
Moves! - a Dutch initiative which introduces short sessions of physical activity
into the primary school classroom to help children and teachers benefit from
activity and relaxation.
Drugs
Work supported the objectives contained in the regional Drugs and Alcohol
Strategy and included the development for professionals and young people of
a new drugs prevention website www.drugsprevention.net on the harmful
effects of drugs.
Qualitative research across Northern Ireland was carried out to assess current
knowledge of volatile substance abuse and future information needs, with a
summary report published in March 2002. The public information campaign on
drugs targeting 18-30 year olds also continued, with posters and leaflets
promoting the National Drugs Helpline.
A public information campaign providing factual information on ecstasy, speed
and LSD targeted teenagers and was supported by an information booklet.
Smoking
The first phase of a public information campaign for adults was launched. A
series of television advertisements was broadcast during the first three
months of the year and the main advertisement was adapted from a
successful anti-smoking campaign in Australia built around the slogan Every
cigarette is doing you damage.
Further information
The CINDI Programme work in Northern Ireland is coordinated by the Health
Promotion Agency. For more information, please contact the CINDI Programme
Director, Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive, Health Promotion Agency for
Northern Ireland, 18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS, Northern Ireland. Tel:
+44 28 9031 1611; Fax: +44 28 9031 1711; E-mail: b.gaffney@hpani.org.uk
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1. The launch of the Fresh Fruit in Schools initiative.
2. The artery advertisement from the ‘Every cigarette is doing you damage’ campaign