Prevention better than cure when it comes to health: Walcha
Date 22 February 2011
A new initiative recently introduced at Walcha Community Health is focusing on improving the health of the community.
The SNAPIF initiative helps people make healthy lifestyle choices to minimise their risk of illness, infections and injuries now and in the future.
The lifestyle choices are: Smoking (reducing or stopping), Nutrition (eating more fruit and vegetables), Alcohol (reducing unsafe drinking), increasing Physical activity, Immunisation, and reducing the risk of Falls in older people – SNAPIF.
According to Service Manager Kris Smith, the SNAPIF initiative will enhance the care that local Community Health clients receive.
“Our staff are committed to preventing ill health, as well as treating it,” Kris said.
“As part of their visit to our Community Health Centre, all clients will be asked about various lifestyle factors, which can impact on their health and overall quality of life. All clients will also receive advice on how they can improve their health and may be offered further support to help them put changes into place.
“This simple health assessment can help people make practical changes to prevent or delay the onset of illnesses and injuries that are commonly linked with unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking.”
The SNAPIF initiative is being supported by Hunter New England Population Health.
Jenny Knight, Acting Service Director for Health Promotion, said that often people are ready to make a change to their lifestyle but may not know where to start.
“Community Health staff are well-placed to identify those clients whose health is at-risk, and to refer them to expert support agencies such as the NSW Quitline and the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service, as well as other local organisations,” Jenny said.
Walcha Community Health is among the first to be offering the SNAPIF initiative to clients. It will be rolled out to all Community Health Centres across Hunter New England Local Health Network during the next two years.
(HNE-2497)
Contact: Carisa Green
Phone: 0428106183