SCHOOLCHILDREN URGED TO EAT MORE HEALTHILY

Schoolchildren throughout Pembrokeshire have been asked to eat more healthily and take more exercise as part of a health promotion campaign this week.

And hundreds of children have pledged to do just that by skipping, walking or eating extra fruit.

Every school in the county was asked what it could do to improve pupils' health as part of a major campaign organised by Pembrokeshire Local Health Board and Pembrokeshire County Council.

Health Challenge Pembrokeshire, which is holding road shows in six towns throughout the county this week, hopes to encourage people to develop healthier lifestyles.

Health promotion officer, Lynne Perry, said the response from schools had been 'fantastic'.

She said: "For Health Challenge Pembrokeshire we have asked school and class councils to take responsibility for deciding, implementing and seeing through activities to improve the health of the whole school community."

She added that many schools were taking part and had pledged to make changes on a daily or weekly basis for a whole year.

Health and fitness experts are available at the road shows all week to offer support and advice on diet and exercise and every household in the county has been sent a leaflet.

Pembrokeshire Local Health Board chairman, Chris Martin, said: "The road shows are an opportunity for the public to find out what they need to do to have a healthier lifestyle.

"We all need to look after our own health and by doing so, many illnesses can be prevented. If you take regular exercise, it reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 20 per cent."

Other advice includes eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, drinking more water and doing moderate exercise for 30 minutes five times a week.

Fitness instructors from Pembrokeshire County Council's leisure centres are accompanying the road shows, carrying out free health checks on members of the public.

Jon Skone, director of social care and housing for Pembrokeshire County Council, said: "We are also offering lifestyle assessments for visitors to the road shows accompanied by free induction sessions in any one of our council-run fitness suites which, hopefully, will kick-start a healthy-living lifestyle."

Schools taking part in Health Challenge Pembrokeshire include Prendergast Juniors, who have pledged to take part in 10 minute skipping sessions and to go for a walk twice a week, and Narberth CP School, which is planning to set up a 'walking bus' scheme and to make sure that pupils have access to water throughout the day.

HEALTH STAFF WALK TALL

Pembrokeshire health staff put their best foot forward as part of a health promotion campaign this week.

Staff and directors of Pembrokeshire Local Health Board have been wearing pedometers all week to monitor how much walking they do.

They agreed to take part in the event as part of Health Challenge Pembrokeshire, which is running all week.

Local Health Board chairman, Chris Martin, said: "We thought it was important to practise what we preach and many of the staff have agreed to wear the pedometers all week."

A series of six road shows have been organised throughout the county jointly by Pembrokeshire Local Health Board and Pembrokeshire County Council and leaflets have been sent to every household.

Free health checks and lifestyle assessments were offered at the roadshows, along with advice on a variety of issues, such as looking after your teeth, obesity, giving up smoking and dealing with bullying.