Regional Minister Nick Brown formally launched the area's first ever
health and well-being strategy in February 2008.
The wide-ranging proposals aim to make people living here the healthiest in
the country within a generation.
Early milestones include the opening of a regional alcohol office called
Balance which will try to change the culture around drinking. Smoking rates
have also dropped significantly and the fight against obesity is well and
truly joined.
Regional Director of Public Health Professor Stephen Singleton welcomed the
positive developments – but warned that everyone involved needed to
keep the momentum going.
Regional advisory groups
Regional advisory groups to take forward the proposals in Better Health,
Fairer Health have been established.
