Institute of Public Health in Ireland

Press Release: First Cross Border Plan for Social Inclusion will improve health and reduce health inequalities in the North West - 21 August 2008

Posted August 21st, 2008 by arlene.mckay
in

21 Aug 2008

A first-ever Cross Border Plan which describes how 43 partners will work across sectors and across the border for the benefit of socially excluded women within the North West was launched today. 

The Levelling Up action plan was launched by Derry Well Woman on behalf of the Cross Border Women’s Health Network.
The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) Senior Policy Officer and report co-author, Dr. Helen McAvoy, said:”Levelling Up shows unacceptable levels of poverty in border counties, especially child poverty. The reliance of families in the North West on low-paid jobs in the manufacturing sector is worrying. Geography dictates that building parallel services in the North West makes little sense and makes poor use of existing resources. Promoting social inclusion on a cross-sectoral and cross-border basis is imperative to improve quality of life and the economic and social development of communities in this region.
 
”The actions proposed in Levelling Up can transform how public services are planned and evaluated in the North West. It is important that all services developed, in health, housing, childcare or transport, are person-centred rather than jurisdiction-centred and cut through red-tape for the benefit of those most in need.”
Derry Well Woman, Manager, Susan Gibson commented “Levelling Up reflects a great coming together of individuals, organisations and politicians from across the North West. We are working with each other for the benefit of the people of this region. Together we aim to reduce the negative health impact of the border. Together we will work to make a difference to the lives of people affected by domestic violence, cancer and mental ill-health. We will work together for Travellers, for older women and for families who are isolated as well as for families whose lives are affected by disabilities.”
 
Almost 400 individuals and 60 organisations as well as political parties, were involved in the process of developing Levelling Up.
 
Those involved are members of the Cross Border Women’s Health Network, a cross border partnership of statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations based within the North West of Ireland working together to improve health status and reduce health inequalities.
Concluding, Susan Gibson said: “The launch of Levelling Up is a celebration. It will provide Derry Well Woman and the Cross Border Women’s Health Network with an opportunity to thank all those women from across the North West of Ireland who worked with us in recent years to bring this Plan to fruition. It is our intention to continue, over the coming years, to drive the implementation of Levelling Up.
 
Further Information
Karen Meehan, Derry Well Woman: +44 (0) 28 7136 0777/ +44 (0)7746971131
Arlene McKay, Institute of Public Health in Ireland: +44 (0)28 9064 8494/ +44 (0)7734 903944
 
ENDS
 
Notes to Editor:
 
Levelling Up
  • A copy of the report can be accessed from http://www.derrywellwoman.org or http://www.publichealth.ie
  • The report details actions such as the establishment of cross-border groups to lead on the development of strategy and services in areas such as domestic violence, water and waste and suicide prevention.
  • It also addresses how public services have committed on both sides of the border to audit the services they provide, to take stock of what they are doing, to share that knowledge with their colleagues cross-border and work towards quality improvement with the needs of socially excluded women in mind
  • The North West region referred to in the report comprises Counties Leitrim, Donegal and Sligo and the Council areas of Fermanagh, Strabane, Limavady, Omagh and Derry.
  • Social exclusion refers to the situation where a person may be excluded and marginalised from participating in activities which are considered the norm for people in society. People can become socially excluded for a variety of reasons such as poverty, disability or discrimination.
 
Important statistics
  • The total population of the North West region is over half a million people ( 530,008). People living in the North West comprise 17% of Northern Ireland’s population and 5.6% of the Republic of Ireland’s population.
  • In the North West local government districts (LGDs)(Limavady, Strabane, Omagh, Derry and Fermanagh) people earn significantly less than the Northern Ireland average (median gross weekly earnings of £267.20 compared to £324.70). 81,769 people were recorded as living in income deprivation in these LGDs in 2006 . Between 22.4 and 23.6% of County Donegal’s labour force is recorded as working in unskilled or semiskilled employment, among the highest percentage of any county in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Particularly high levels of child poverty have been recorded in Derry (38%) and Limavady (33%), as well as in the border region of the Republic of Ireland (37.4%).
 
Role and membership of Levelling Up / Cross Border Women’s Health Network
 
Network members:

Northern Ireland Statutory Organisations
Business in the Community, Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT), Centre for Cross Border Studies, Derry City Council, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Fermanagh District Council, Limavady Borough Council, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Omagh District Council, Social Security Agency, Strabane District Council, Western Education and Library Board, Western Health and Social Care Trust, Western Health and Social Services Board

Northern Ireland Voluntary Organisations
Derry Well Woman, Fermanagh Women’s Network, Foyle Women’s Aid, Foyle Women’s Information Network, Roe Valley Women’s Network, Strabane / Lifford Women’s Centre

Republic of Ireland Statutory Organisations
Combat Poverty Agency, Department of Social Inclusion, Donegal County Council, Donegal Education Centre, Donegal Vocational Education Committee, Health Services Executive – North West Division, Leitrim County Council, Leitrim Vocational Educational Committee, Sligo County Council, Sligo Education Centre, Sligo Vocational Education Committee

Republic of Ireland Voluntary Organisations
Border Action, Community Connections CDP, Co-operating for Cancer Care North West (CCCNW), County Leitrim Partnership, Donegal Women’s Network, Inishowen Partnership, Inishowen Women’s Information Network, Inishowen Women’s Outreach, North Leitrim Women’s Group, Sligo Leader Partnership, Women’s Health Council of Ireland

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland
The Institute of Public Health in Ireland promotes co-operation for public health between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Its remit includes monitoring and surveillance, and its priority is to combat health inequalities and influence public policy in favour of health. Further information can be found at www.publichealth.ie.

 

 

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