Healthy Communities Programme announced for northwest Mayo

THE northwest area of Mayo has been selected as one of 19 sites nationally for investment under the Healthy Communities Programme.

The area covers the towns and villages of Ballycastle, Glenamoy, Bangor Erris, Belmullet, Ballycroy, Mulranny, Achill Sound and all of Achill Island, an area with a population of approximately 16,000.

The programme is designed to develop locally led initiatives that will help improve the overall health and well-being of people in this community. The initiatives involved will be delivered on a partnership basis between local voluntary organisations. There will also be a strong emphasis on collaboration between the HSE and Mayo County Council.

Breda Crehan-Roache, chief officer, Community Healthcare West, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in having one of these 19 national projects located in our region.

“This permanent investment will offer a range of well-being initiatives across all age groups and will bring a range of locally based services to the people of northwest Mayo.”

The specific programmes being delivered will include the following:

* Smoking cessation one to one clinics will be delivered by a HSE smoking cessation officer.

* We Can Quit group smoking cessation workshops will be delivered through the North East Mayo Development Company.

* Healthy food made easy nutrition workshops will be delivered through the North East Mayo Development Company.

* The Social Prescribing Programme will be delivered through the Family Centre, Castlebar.

* A parenting programme will be delivered through Le Cheile Family Resource Centre, Castlebar.

Planning is already well underway on the recruitment of staff and it is expected that all of the initiatives will have commenced in early 2022.

The first initiatives to commence this year will be the healthy food made easy nutrition workshops and local parenting programmes.