Minister calls on public to support health service by prioritising personal health and wellbeing
- Love Ballymena
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has made a direct appeal to the people of Northern Ireland, urging them to take greater personal responsibility for their health in order to ease the growing pressures on the region’s healthcare system.
Speaking at a walking football charity event in Lisburn organised by the Hillsborough Walking Football Club, the Minister stressed the need for a societal shift towards more active lifestyles, particularly as healthcare systems worldwide struggle to cope with increasing demand.
“It was great to be able to not only attend this event, but to take part as well. We are fortunate in NI to have a great many sporting and activity organisations for all ages,” said Mr Nesbitt.
Walking football, a low-impact sport designed for individuals over the age of 50, was the focal point of the day. The marathon event also raised funds for Eager Belvoirs Special Olympics Club, a cause the Minister commended.
The Minister, whose own health journey has included the implantation of two stents, a pacemaker and a defibrillator following a heart condition diagnosed in 2016, used the occasion to share a broader message about personal and collective responsibility for health.
“My health struggles of recent years are well known. I am challenging myself and everyone else to try to be a bit more active in our daily lives. The benefits to individuals are clear, in terms of physical and mental well-being. However, it’s also important to society as a whole,” he said.
Mr Nesbitt highlighted the stark reality that even as the Department of Health invests unprecedented sums to reduce hospital waiting lists, the system alone cannot withstand the growing pressure without public cooperation.
“While I am now investing unparallelled sums in tackling hospital waiting lists, the reality is that health services across the world are struggling to match ever growing demand for care, as people live longer lives,” he stated.
His message was unequivocal: prevention must become as important as treatment.
“My ambition as Health Minister includes moving focus from treating the sick to helping to keep healthy people healthy. That’s a challenge for us all across Government, as we need to ensure our environment supports and enables good health and wellbeing. It’s also a challenge for individuals.”
He added: “Without a collective effort to take care of our health, services will always have difficulty keeping up with growing pressures.”
Emphasising the long-term implications, Mr Nesbitt concluded:
“There’s therefore an onus on each of us to look after our health and well-being as much as possible. That’s not just for our own sake but also to help reduce levels of demand for care and ensure our health service can thrive into the future.”
As part of ongoing efforts to promote healthier lifestyles, the Public Health Agency continues to provide resources through its Choose to Live Better campaign, offering advice and support on ways to get active and make healthier choices.
More information is available at:
The event was another reminder that community engagement and simple activities such as walking football can play a vital role in not only personal wellness, but the long-term sustainability of Northern Ireland’s health services.