A round-up of health related events taking place around the country this month.
Health services information fair in Galway
Information on mental health, sexual health and complementary health will be available free alongside fitness and health screenings at the first Galway Health Services information fair tomorrow, 11am to 4pm, at NUI Galway. Age Action West, Aids West, Arthritis Ireland, Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Integrating Ireland and SpunOut.ie will attend. The event is a collaborative venture between NUIG and the Galway Refugee Support Group. Tel: 091-480095.
Nutrition and cancer prevention
Recent studies have pointed out that almost half of all colon cancers and about 40 per cent of breast cancers can be prevented by changes to diet, levels of physical activity and weight control.
Nutritional therapist Gosia Desmond will speak about the role of nutrition in cancer prevention on Thursday at 7pm in Griffith College, Dublin. Admission is €15. Bookings on tel: 01-2353094.
Ongoing need for organ donors
More than 600 people in Ireland are awaiting life-saving transplant operations. Organ Donor Awareness Week, which starts on Sunday, aims to highlight the ongoing need for organ donation for transplantation. Organ donor cards are available from the Irish Kidney Association on tel: 1890-543639 or Freetext the word DONOR to 50050. Visit ika.ie.
Inclusion Ireland conference
Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with an intellectual disability, is holding its agm and annual conference this weekend in the Hillgrove Hotel, Co Monaghan. Guest speakers include Dr Mark Hamilton of RTÉ’s How Long Will You Live on managing your healthcare and Dr John Owens, former Mental Health Commission chairman. He will speak on mental health issues and people with an intellectual disability. Registration forms are on inclusionireland.ie, or tel 01-8559891.
Talking about mindfulness
“Developing mindfulness is very important. We say it is like a lost child finding its mother, because you reconnect with yourself.” So says Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, meditation master who will give a public talk on Friday at 7pm in Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey St, Dublin. Tickets €15 in advance; €20 on the door.
Tel: 01-4537427 or e-mail: info@buddhism.ie