The awards, the winners of which will be announced in mid-February, recognise and celebrate community and councils working together. They aim to provide an opportunity “to highlight and celebrate the work done within our communities, to reward our unsung heroes and recognise the phenomenal contribution they’ve made to our lives”.

The IPU was among the stakeholders involved in this free chronic disease risk management programme, which launched in community pharmacies in Kells and Oldcastle in September 2023. Healthy Meath led out on this initiative, and other stakeholders included Kenlis Total Health Pharmacy Kells, Lynch’s Total Health Pharmacy Kells, McQuaids Pharmacy in Oldcastle and Roche Diagnostics. Funding was provided by Meath County Council under the Healthy Ireland Fund, supported by the Department of Health.

The purpose of the pilot programme was to provide free health checks to identify risk factors that lead to the development of chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.