HEALTH chiefs have reaffirmed their commitment to fight heart disease in County Durham, which still kills an above average number of people in the area.

County Durham and Darlington Health Authority has just published its Health Improvement Programme for 2001 to 2004.

The programme sets out how the NHS will work with other groups in the community to improve health and health care.

As in previous years, the main areas being targeted in the Darlington area are heart disease, strokes, cancer and mental health.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council, which works with the NHS on its Health Improvement Programme, said: "A key theme of the NHS plan is to reduce health inequalities, recognising that health is not simply the absence of illness or physical infirmity, but actually 'a state of physical and social well being'."

The plan also aims to promote strong communities, look after the environment and the economy and develop life-long learning.

One of the ways the health authority hopes to improve life-long learning is to educate people about ways to prevent heart disease and the other main killers.

Figures from the Health Authority show that although rates of chronic heart disease have fallen steadily over the past ten years, they still exceed the national average.

The latest figures, for 1997 to 1999, show that in the whole of County Durham and Darlington, rates of heart disease are 29 per cent above the national average.

Incidents of heart attacks are 37 per cent higher than average. In some places, including Easington, the rate rises to 70 per cent above average, while Darlington stands at 40 per cent higher.

A spokesman for the health authority said: "We need to work with people to cut the incidents of heart disease in this area.

"Hopefully, the health improvement programme will help cut these figures, which are still way above the national average."

The Northern Echo has been campaigning for people to live healthier lives as part of its Chance to Live initiative, which was launched after staff photographer Ian Weir died while waiting for a heart operation.