Mapping out physical activity

NEW ‘Active Travel’ Maps, funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA), for the cities and towns of Londonderry, Enniskillen, Limavady, Omagh and Strabane have been launched to encourage local people and visitors to build physical activity into their day by walking, cycling, jogging, or using public transport.

The Active Maps aim to promote health and wellbeing across the five district councils in the West and contain information on local cycle, walk and bus routes as well as useful contacts such as local cycle hire and sales outlets and walking groups, for example.

Brendan Bonner, Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (West), PHA said: “The PHA has a leading role in tackling health inequality and promoting good health and wellbeing. We do this in partnership with many organisations and are delighted to fund these maps, working with the local councils and the Western Trust to make healthy choices easier for local people and those who visit our main towns in the West.

“Government guidelines recommend that adults should be active on a daily basis and over a week, moderate intensity activity should add up to at least two and a half hours. This could be completed by doing 30 minutes of activity on at least five days of the week, for example.”

The Western Task group is made up of the PHA, Fermanagh, Omagh, Strabane, Derry City and Limavady Councils and the Western Health and Social Care Trust. The Active Maps were produced under the theme of Inspiring Communities to get Active.

The maps will be available at local public services and community buildings, on each of the councils’ websites and throughout the local areas in the West, as well as on the Publications section of the PHA website: www.publichealthagency.org