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Public
health must be prominent in new structures, says HPA
At the launch of its sixteenth annual report today, the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) emphasised to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey the importance of public health in the soon to be restructured health service.
Speaking during the event Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: �Public health and health promotion should be at the very core of the work of the new regional Health and Social Care Authority, and in the Health and Social Care Trusts. I would strongly urge the Minister that whatever his decision is for the new structure of the health service, improving the public�s health be his main priority.
�A healthy population will ensure both economic and social progress and so it is absolutely essential that public health and health promotion work continues. The HPA, as Northern Ireland�s major regional health promotion organisation, has highly developed research, evaluation and information resources which remain central to the work of the organisation and provide a strong platform for future health improvement.
�The HPA�s range of work across the many areas of public health has been increasing year on year and the past twelve months have been no exception. In the key areas of smoking, alcohol, nutrition and physical activity, initiatives have been completed which continue to address the associated risk factors which contribute to many of the diseases characteristic of our population.
�This year, in particular, saw a major milestone for public health with the introduction of smoke-free legislation, the result of partnership and collaboration between community, voluntary, statutory and private sector organisations.� The HPA recognises that people need accurate and accessible information to help them make healthier decisions and choices and so it uses a variety of media, especially electronic media, to successfully meet this need. The organisation now has 10 websites covering a wide range of health topics.
During the year the HPA also developed a number of high profile public information campaigns on a range of health issues and continued to share communications expertise, campaign advertisements and publications covering many different health topics with other organisations around the world.
The report provides an overview of some of the work undertaken during 2006�2007, highlighting work in the areas of alcohol, breastfeeding, mental health, drugs, maternal and child health, nutrition, physical activity, research and evaluation, sexual health and health protection. It also shows the HPA�s contribution to the wider health promotion agenda through collaborative partnerships with a range of organisations and agencies in the Republic of Ireland, UK and internationally.
END
Notes
to editors:
Dr Brian Gaffney will be available for interview on Wednesday 5 September. Please contact the Press Office to arrange an interview.
The report
is available in alternative formats by contacting Tony
Sheridan on Tel: 9031 1611 or email [email protected]
The report can be downloaded as a PDF (1.3Mb) file here
For
further information:
Contact
Jenny Dougan or Rosie McGaughey on 028 9031 1611.
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