Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

Health Survey FindingsNorthern IrelandSimilar challenges for Travellers in terms of premature mortality have been noted in NI as in ROI.According to ‘Investing for Health’ (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2002),Travellers die about 15 years earlier than the general population in NI. Only 1 in 10 of the TravellerPopulation is over 40 years of age and 1 in 100 is over 65. Child mortality up to age 10 has been foundto be 10 times that of the population as a whole.The Royal Hospitals Group in Belfast commissioned research (McMahon, 2005) into a health assessmentand needs of Travellers in Belfast. The DHSSPS also supports a community health project with An MuniaTober in Belfast. In 1999 a new ‘Targeting Social Needs’ policy initiative in Northern Ireland containeda specific theme of PSI, and a PSI Working Group on Travellers was created. In 2000 an initial PSIreport was published (Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, 2000). The Executive inNorthern Ireland produced a response to the PSI Working Group on Health in 2002 (Office of the FirstMinister and the Deputy First Minister, 2002), which contained a number of recommendations aimed atimproving the health and wellbeing of Travellers.Why Primary Health Care?Primary Health Care has been used as an innovative approach to health care in the developing world. Inthe last decade there has been a growing interest in and demand for these services, as evidence growsthat marginalised populations suffer disproportionately from poor health and have less access to healthcare services.The concept of Primary Health Care was established at the joint WHO/UNICEF conference in Alma-Atain 1978. It acknowledged the need to reform the conventional health systems. Health was seen as theconcern of society as a whole.‘Primary Health Care (PHC) is essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and sociallyacceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in thecommunity, through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford tomaintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. It is the firstlevel of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national system, bringing health care asclose as possible to where people live and work, and constitutes the first element of a continuing health careprocess’Alma Ata Declaration 1978Primary Health Care is a statement of health philosophy, not a package, or a complete definedmethodology. It is a flexible system that can be adapted to the health problems, culture, way of lifeand the stage of development reached by the community. Primary Health Care in communities meansenabling individuals and organisations to improve health through informed health care, self-help andmutual aid. It encourages and supports local initiatives for health.23