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Health Promotion
Agency launches ninth annual report
The Health Promotion
Agency for Northern Ireland today launched its ninth annual
report, which highlights many aspects of the Agency's work
undertaken during the year. The report gives information on
priority health issues including alcohol, smoking, nutrition,
physical activity, mental health, drugs and sexual health.
This year's annual
report has been produced as the Agency celebrates its tenth
anniversary since it was established on 1 October 1990. This
important milestone in the organisation's history has been
chosen as the ideal time to unveil a new corporate identity,
which will take the Agency forward into a new era.
Speaking during
the launch Mr Anthony Harbinson, Chairman of the Agency said:
"The Annual Report outlines how the Agency continues to provide
policy advice to government and a variety of organisations,
information based on current research for both the public
and professionals and specialist training and active support
for a wide range of individuals in the implementation of health
promotion action programmes."
Dr Brian Gaffney,
Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency, reflected
on some of the major achievements during the past year. In
particular he drew attention to the research document 'Evaluating
public information campaigns on drugs: a summary report',
which contains information on the challenging work in drugs
carried out by the Agency over the past four years.
He said: "This
report shows that the campaigns carried out by the Agency
have made an impact on the knowledge and attitudes of young
people in Northern Ireland towards drugs.
"The campaigns,
which have been the Agency's contribution to much work going
on across Northern Ireland to combat illicit drug use, may
even have led to a reduction in the use of the three drugs,
LSD, Ecstasy and Speed."
The Annual Report
also emphasises the importance of working strategically to
promote health. It describes the Agency's involvement in the
development of 'Minding
our health', the new regional strategy to promote
mental health and wellbeing.
Dr Gaffney added:
"Much of the Agency's work over the years has been carried
out in collaboration with other organisations at local, national
and international levels. It is my belief that through working
with others we will achieve increased awareness of the importance
of health promotion.
"It is hoped
the new corporate look will give renewed impact to health
promotion work across the health and social services and will
raise awareness of the Agency's commitment to continue to
work to make health a top priority for everyone in Northern
Ireland."
Copies of the
annual report will be available from the Health Promotion
Agency for Northern Ireland.
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