Speaking at the Northern Investing for Health Partnership conference in Ballymena today, the key theme of which was ‘Poverty and Health Inequalities’, the minister said: “To improve health and wellbeing overall, we must renew our focus on tackling inequalities in health and their root causes.
“I believe that the new Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Wellbeing I am creating, in partnership with local government and the community and voluntary sector, will drive the public health agenda in a way that is not possible under current arrangements. It will provide focus and co-ordination, and build on and strengthen the work of existing partnerships.”
He added: “Health inequalities are an issue we simply have to address. It cannot be tolerated that your life expectancy and health status is determined by where you are born.
“Health inequalities are still rife – and it is a fact that people who live in deprived areas, in poor housing, who are unemployed and have lower educational attainment, are more likely to suffer ill health and an earlier death than the rest of the population.
“As a society we must improve and protect the health of the population. It’s not only about helping people take responsibility for their own health and educating them about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle - although that is important. It is also about helping to create the conditions that enable healthy choices, health improvement and better quality of life for all our citizens.”
Notes to Editors:
- The key aims of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public safety public health strategy ’Investing for Health’ published in 2002 are to improve life expectancy across the population and to reduce health inequalities.
- The Northern Investing for Health Partnership conference was aimed at key partners of the Northern Investing for Health Partnership. The aims of the conference were to share learning on how the joint working of the Partnership is contributing to reducing health inequalities, and to explore how effectiveness in tackling key issues can be improved.
- The Partnership comprises over 40 partner organisations from across the community, voluntary and statutory sectors who are working collectively to achieve the Investing for Health goals and targets.
- These partners include the Northern Health and Social Services Board, the current ten District Councils, the North Eastern Education and Library Board, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Northern Neighbourhoods Health Action Zone, the local HSS Trust, and the main community networks within the NHSSB area.
- The establishment of a Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Wellbeing will incorporate and build on the work of the Health Promotion Agency but will have much wider responsibility for health protection, health improvement and development to address existing health inequalities and public health issues for all the people of Northern Ireland.
- The Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Wellbeing is one element of the minister’s wide-ranging health and social care reforms.
- Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
