Tackling local health inequalities – working together to build healthier neighbourhoods

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The 6th Northern Neighbourhoods Health Action Zone (NNHAZ) conference took place at Loughguile Millennium Centre on Friday 26 March 2010.

The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Making a Difference: Tackling Health Inequalities in a Community Setting’. The conference highlighted and showcased a broad range of work being taken forward by the 14 NNHAZ neighbourhoods to tackle health inequalities and improve the health and well being of their local residents.

Speakers from local communities across the Northern area shared their experiences of working to reduce health inequalities within their neighbourhoods. The 150 strong audience was provided with an insight to some of the health challenges faced by local communities and the benefits of working in partnership with the statutory, voluntary and community sectors to effect positive health and well-being changes.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency, welcomed delegates to the conference and highlighted the importance of community action to effectively address the health needs of local neighbourhoods. Commenting at the conference he said:

“A key focus for the Public Health Agency is to tackle health inequalities and improve the health and social well-being of the people in Northern Ireland. Through today’s event, it is most inspiring to see how local groups have achieved major health and well being benefits for their communities through effective action. The broad range of innovative work being taken forward at a neighbourhood level is an example of good practice. Through the Public Health Agency we will continue to engage with local communities and to build upon much of the work that has been progressed through the Health Action Zones and Investing for Health.”

The conference programme focused on how the HAZ model of partnership working and joint action planning has resulted in significant positive changes and improvements in the HAZ neighbourhoods and for the local residents living within them.

Speaking about the importance of building community capacity, Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health Improvement with the Public Health Agency, said:

“The HAZ model of partnership working and joint action planning has resulted in significant positive changes for local residents - both in terms of addressing the wider determinants of health and building social capital. It is clear that well organised and empowered communities, such as the NNHAZ neighbourhoods, are highly effective in determining their own health – as clearly demonstrated by those communities participating in today’s conference.”

The conference programme consisted of presentations from several NNHAZ neighbourhoods, highlighting projects which have been progressed to support the three key themes of the Health Action Zone – access to education and empowerment; access to services and facilities; and the promotion of positive mental health.

Colette Rogers, Northern Neighbourhoods Health Action Zone Co-ordinator with the Public Health Agency, said:

“Today’s conference has not only provided delegates with a greater understanding of the work being taken forward within the 14 participating neighbourhoods, but has highlighted some of the challenges and health related issues facing our local communities. Speaking from experience many of today’s presenters have provided a valuable insight into the role local communities can play in the development of health and social care services.”

Notes to the editor

1. The Northern Neighbourhoods Health Action Zone (NNHAZ) is a community-led partnership initiative, established to address health inequalities and improve the health and well-being of residents in 14 designated neighbourhoods across the Northern Area.

2. The 14 designated Health Action Zone neighbourhoods in the Northern area are:
• Antiville (Larne Borough Council area)
• Armoy (Moyle District Council area)
• Ballee (Ballymena Borough Council area)
• Ballycastle (Moyle District Council area)
• Ballysally (Coleraine Borough Council area)
• Bawnmore (Newtownabbey Borough Council area)
• Craigyhill (Larne Borough Council area)
• Glebeside (Ballymoney Borough Council area)
• Glenfield (Carrickfergus Borough Council area)
• Longlands (Newtownabbey Borough Council area)
• New Mossley (Newtownabbey Borough Council area)
• Parkview & Riverside (Magherafelt District Council area)
• Ratheen, Greenvale & Sullenboy (Cookstown Borough Council area)
• Rathenraw (Antrim Borough Council area)

3. The Health Action Zone is led by the Public Health Agency

4. The Health Action Zone initiative contributes to the goals and objectives of ‘Investing for Health’ - the regional public health strategy, which was published in March 2002.