Free health checks for local farmers

THE Northern Trust is working in partnership with Ballymena Livestock Market and the Ulster Farmers Union to bring healthcare into the heart of farming communities. Farmers attending the market are being offered the chance to have a free health check over three days from Wednesday to Friday. March 3-5, from 11.30am – 2.30pm in the market foyer.

Nurses, a pharmacist and a dietitian and other healthcare workers will be on hand to carry out checks which include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI (Body Mass Index) measurements and to provide information on how to stay fit and healthy.

Farmers lead busy lives and thinking about their health is often well down their list of priorities.

There may be a number of reasons for this including lack of time, self-sufficiency and a culture of “just getting on with things.”

Compared to previous generations farmers are less physically active due to increased mechanisation.

Taking regular recreational exercise provides physical and mental health benefits such as reducing the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, lowering blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the chances of developing medical conditions such as Type Two diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Dr Brian Hunter who is a General Practitioner and Chairman of the Northern Commissioning Group has worked closely with the Northern Trust and Ulster Farmers Union on this and other projects aimed at improving health outcomes for farming families.

He said, “I am sure that forward thinking farmers who realise that their health and well being is an important part of farm productivity will take the opportunity to come along to Ballymena Mart for a check up”.

For more information on the health checks contact Yvonne Carson on 2563 5575 or email: [email protected].