Health Minister Edwina Hart will attend the launch of a new initiative to reduce heart disease in Torfaen.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has awarded £1.5million in funding and resources to Torfaen Local Health Board to tackle heart disease in the area. It comes as part of the health charity’s UK-wide Hearty Lives programme to reduce geographical inequalities in heart disease.

The work complements a wide range of Welsh Assembly Government initiatives to reduce obesity, encourage healthy eating and promote exercise – all of which improve heart health.

The Minister said: “The work of British Heart Foundation Cymru will play an important role in tackling heart disease in Torfaen.

“The area has been identified as having a particularly high rate of heart disease and I welcome the Hearty Lives programme launched today which will help reduce the levels of heart disease and encourage people to make the most of relevant services already available.”

Dr Jane Layzell, Local Public Health Director and Programme Lead for the Hearty Lives Project in Torfaen said: “We are delighted that Torfaen has received this funding boost from the British Heart Foundation.

“We are looking forward to working closely with BHF Cymru, local GPs and community groups over the next three years to deliver a programme which reduces inequalities in heart health amongst those who live and work in Torfaen.”

Notes

The programme will be launched on 5 November at Pontypool Active Living Centre, Pontypool.

The Minister will attend the launch from 13:30 – 14:00. Her agenda is as follows:

13:30 – Address the audience to launch the programme
13:40 – Jump Rope Demonstration & Exhibition by pupils from Llanyravon Primary School
13:50 – Minister to visit exhibitions stations – each of which include information on each strand of the programme and opportunity to speak to the lead/key member of staff in that area.
Source
The British Heart Foundation