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A Healthy Start For Local Low Income Families

Friday 22nd April 2011

Pregnant women and families on a low income are today being urged to take advantage of a free healthy vitamin scheme run by their local Chesterfield children's centre.

A Healthy Start for local low income familiesNutritionists at NHS Derbyshire say vitamins are essential for healthy growth and development, and are currently available without charge to anyone qualifying for Healthy Start vouchers.

Healthy Start vouchers can be used towards the cost of healthy basic foods like fresh and frozen plain fruit, vegetables and milk, to a value of £3.10 per child per week, with children under the age of one getting £6.20 per week.

But many pregnant women and families on a low income are still missing out on free supplements containing vital vitamins A, C and D for children, and vitamins C, D and folic acid for women, simply because they don't understand how the voucher scheme works.

Maddie Thomas, NHS Derbyshire nutrition lead for children and families, said: "Many people signed up to the Healthy Start scheme regularly exchange their vouchers for free milk, fruit and veg, yet they forget to collect their vitamins.

"Vitamins have enormous health benefits for us all, but particularly if you have young children, are pregnant or breastfeeding, so it seems a shame that families are missing out.

"Healthy Start bottles contain vitamins which are vital for strong bones, growth, general health and the immune system, and folic acid which is very important before and during early pregnancy.

"We'd urge anyone wanting their family to grow up strong and healthy to drop into their local children's centre or health centre and present their voucher now."

Anyone wanting to find out more about Healthy Start vouchers can do so by visiting www.healthystart.nhs.uk. Alternatively they can talk to their health visitor, midwife or call in at their local children's centre for an application form.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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