As it published its 2025 annual report yesterday, Dr Simon Sebire said he was pleased to see that this had started to happen.
HIC provides several programmes and supports others focused on healthier weight, eating well, substance abuse, social prescribing and being active.
‘I think we’ve seen really good progress across all of our work streams,’ he said.
The progress was across a variety of settings as well as informing policy, and working with the States and with schools, from early years to secondary.
Smoking prevention has seen more eateries adopting a no-smoking policy outdoors, with special signs made by Guernsey Prison inmates being used to notify customers.
The social prescribing programme had proven so popular that at one point there was a waiting time of about 30 weeks, but this has now been reduced to 16. Other programmes for adults have included the successful Oviva weight loss management service and React – Retirement in Action – designed to help older adults stay active, independent and confident.
‘It’s trying to fill that gap in older age as individuals start to get less mobile and start to notice maybe a little bit more difficulty in activities of daily living, such as getting out of a chair or bending over and reaching something, and then intervening at that point to prevent further problems such as falls and greater mobility decline occurring.
‘It goes to show, I think, that prevention can happen at any age, and it’s never too late to have a preventative approach,’ he said.
You need to be logged in to comment.