Departments
Improving Your Health
- The Investing for Health initiative involves a wide range of people from statutory and voluntary agencies all working together to tackle the root causes of ill health.
- The Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone continues to provide a range of programmes to improve health such as the scheme which ensures that children in local schools can receive free fresh fruit every day.
- Health improvement also includes health promotion where we have initiatives to encourage people to go walking or stop smoking.
Investing for Health
Investing for Health, the regional public health strategy for N Ireland was published in 2002 and is being taken forward in each Health and Social Services Board area by a local multi-agency multi-sector partnership. The Southern Investing for Health Partnership has been "working together for an improved life for all" focusing on key issues such as poverty, education, housing and environment, with a particular emphasis on tackling the current inequalities in health and wellbeing within the local population. Details of who is involved in the partnership, the projects and programmes that are supported by it and information papers and publications it has produced can all be accessed at www.southernifh.com
Health Promotion
The Public Health Department work closely with the Southern Area Health Promotion Department. Together they aim to enable people to have more control over factors affecting their health.
The Board supported the development of a new website (www.goodhealthinfo.org.uk) which provides information on a range of health issues. It includes information about local smoking cessation clinics and also links to 'Young Minds Matter' which is a directory of local services specifically geared towards mental health issues relevant to young people.
The website also has links to the local sexual health website (http://www.coolsexinfo.org.uk/). The sexual health website has been developed to allow young people in particular, to gain information about sexual health while at the same time addressing their concerns about anonymity and confidentiality.
To promote the benefits of exercise, the Southern Board has been supporting an important walking initiative locally. 20 volunteers completed a course to become health walk leaders in their local communities.
Anyone interested in knowing more about physical activity and walks in their local area can contact Angela Corr on 028 3752 0500
The Southern Health and Social Services Board funded the development of a new resource pack entitled "Lets Talk About Drugs" for parents, teachers, community and youth workers.
Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the pack should contact the Southern Area Health Promotion Department at 028 3752 0500 or Parents Advice Centre on 028 9031 0891.