Navan is selected as Healthy Town 2016

Navan has been selected as Healthy Town 2016 by Pfizer and the Irish Times. Healthy Town 2016 provides a series of free events, seminars, and health checks over an eight week period, during September and October. Proud Navan native Hector Ó’hEochagáinhas also been unveiled as Healthy Town 2016 Ambassador and will be encouraging everyone to get involved in the programme.

Now in its fifth year, Pfizer-Irish Times Healthy Town is an annual programme that aims to enhance the health and wellbeing of communities around Ireland. It aligns with the World Health Organisation’s Healthy Cities initiative and Healthy Ireland’s Healthy Towns and Counties, and establishes that every town has the potential to be a Healthy Town. ‘Healthy Ireland’, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of Ireland, supports the programme. Previous Healthy Towns have included Athlone, Portlaoise, Wicklow and Kilkenny.

Members of the public are invited to share their thoughts and ideas on what the programme should involve by posting on the Healthy Town Facebook page using #MyHealthyTown.

Healthy Town aims to encourage the people of Navan to improve their health and wellbeing through organised, free events, health checks and talks. The programme also provides local clubs, groups and businesses with a platform from which to highlight all they have to offer to the local community; the ‘My Healthy Town Hub’ - a Healthy Town map of Navan - will also be created over the summer detailing all of the health and wellbeing-related resources available in Navan.

Healthy Town 2016 will provide residents of Navan with an opportunity to pay more attention to their overall health and wellbeing while inspiring other town residents across Co. Meath and around Ireland to do likewise. It calls on everyone to make simple, small changes to benefit their overall health.

The Navan Healthy Town 2016 programme of events this autumn will include events along the themes of: ‘My Mind’, ‘My Body’ and ‘My Heart’.

Commenting, Minister Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Minister of State for Health Promotion, said, 'Healthy Ireland is delighted to continue to support this wonderfully collaborative and innovative programme that helps communities to boost their health and wellbeing. Healthy Ireland is all about motivating and empowering individuals and communities to work together to improve health and wellbeing. I am particularly pleased to see the involvement of Meath County Council as I believe that Local Authorities have a key role to play in implementing Healthy Ireland. I wish the people of Navan every success with the initiative.'

Navan native and Ambassador for Healthy Town 2016, Hector Ó’hEochagáin said, “As a Navan-man, I’m proud to be part of the Healthy Town programme which is all about inspiring the people of Navan - and people in towns all around Ireland - to make the most of the wealth of clubs, groups, facilities and resources that are at their fingertips in their home town to help boost their health and wellbeing. Navan has so much to be proud of and so many health and wellbeing facilities. Check out Healthy Town Ireland on Facebook, tell your family, friends and neighbours and be part of it! – it’ll be great craic!”

Kevin Stewart, Director of Services, Meath County Council said, “Navan’s designation as Healthy Town 2016 is great for the town’s people and businesses. We have a wealth of activities and services available in the town and Healthy Town 2016 allows us to build on this and celebrate all Navan has to offer. We look forward to building the programme this summer with input from the people of Navan and to some exciting events in September and October. I’d encourage everyone in Navan to get involved and share their views on Healthy Town Facebook over the summer months about what they’d like to see in Healthy Town.”

Maureen Mulvihill, Head of Health Promotion, Irish Heart Foundation, said, “Each year the Irish Heart Foundation provides free heart health checks and information as part of the Healthy Town programme, which helps people identify their risk such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol - the leading cause of death in Ireland. This community initiative, supported by the Irish Heart Foundation, can help people make small changes to their diet, increase physical activity and make healthier choices to improve their heart health. There is great potential for the people of Navan to improve their heart health and wellbeing by participating in Healthy Town 2016.”

Paul Reid, Managing Director, Pfizer Ireland said, “We are delighted to unveil Navan as Healthy Town 2016 and to celebrate the fifth year of Healthy Town in partnership with the Irish Times. Healthy Town is designed to be an inclusive programme that encourages people in towns around Ireland to make small changes that will have a big impact on their health and wellbeing. Navan has a host of amenities available and we look forward to celebrating them this year.”

Irish Times Editor, Kevin O’Sullivan said: “We at The Irish Times are proud to be part of the Healthy Town initiative and to support towns and communities around the country to boost their health and wellbeing. We will share informative content through our dedicated Healthy Town microsite so that the people in the town and nationwide can access it easily. People in Navan will be able to avail of hints, tips and advice on the site. We’re looking forward to another great Healthy Town programme.”

 

Photos: Hector, and Rosie O'Neill with Kevin Stewart, Director of Services, Meath County Council, Maureen Mulvihill, Head of Health Promotion, Irish Heart Foundation, and Paul Reid, MD, Pfizer at the announcement that Navan, has been designated as the Pfizer Irish Times Healthy Town 2016. Photos by Robbie Reynolds.