Health Minister visits Sheffield
Sheffield has received a VIP visit from Public Health Minister
Melanie Johnson MP, who recently visited the city to look
at the progress being made in reducing the health divide
and empowering communities.
The visit encompassed four major themes - partnership working,
involving communities, tackling health inequalities and
improving nutrition. Following the Wanless Report, the government
has recently launched a public consultation on how to improve
the nation's health and well-being, which highlights smoking
and obesity as two worrying problems. In respect of this,
Ms Johnson heard on her visit about Sheffield’s strides
in tackling these issues, and was informed about a very
popular Junior school fruit tuck shop. She also visited
the healthy eating cafes in both Manor and Upperthorpe,
which allow members of the public to access nutritious,
affordable meals whilst also offering meeting space, community
training facilities and opportunities for peer advocacy.
She said: "The biggest issues we face are obesity
and smoking. I can see in Sheffield how muchpeople can improve
health within their own communities through food, physical
activity and community partnerships. Sheffield has demonstrated
how this can work. I leave with a very optimistic opinion
of what's being done here."
The Minister visited the Sheffield 5 A DAY Project which
is led by South East Sheffield Primary care Trust and delivered
by Sheffield Wildlife Trust. She met mums and tots from
the baby friendly cafe and discussed breastfeeding issues
with them.
She had a cup of tea in the community cafe, and met the
5 A DAY project workers, who explained about the importance
of promoting healthy eating and linking food and the environment.
She also talked to the Manor and Castle Development Trust
team, and community healthwise.
april 2004
October 02, 2006 
