SCHOOL ACTIVITY:All primary and post-primary schools are encouraged to take part in Active School Week which runs from today until Friday. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the value of physical education and encourage schools to give any discretionary curriculum time to physical activity and school sports this week. Schools may also enter the Active Schools Awards. The closing date for entries is April 4th. For further details, see www.activeschoolawards.ie
VACCINATION LOBBY:The Meningitis Trust is calling on the Minister for Health to introduce pneumococcal vaccination as part of the routine child immunisation scheme. Many countries including the US, Canada, Britain and Australia routinely vaccinate against this disease. The trust is asking parents to lobby their local TDs on this issue in the run-up to the general election. See www.meningitiscampaign.ie for full details.
BIRTH CONFERENCE:Normalising Birth in Ireland - Motivation for Change is the theme of a one-day conference onMarch 29th in the Cultivate Centre, Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin. Denis Walsh, an international expert and advocate for normal birth, is the keynote speaker at the conference organised by Cuidiú, the Irish Childbirth Trust. Contact Fiona Rea on tel: 087-6324967 or Niamh Healy on086-8577140 for more details. See www.cuidiu-ict.ie
PLATE CONTROL:Portion control is one of the biggest issues for those keen to lose weight. The diet plate, which comes in different sizes for men, women and children, has outlined portion sections for carbohydrates and protein, encouraging dieters to fill the rest of the plate with salad and vegetables. Introduced into the Irish market by United Drug, the diet plate is available in pharmacies at €29.99. See www.thedietplate.com
Lifelines is compiled by Sylvia Thompson
sthompson@irish-times.ie