Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

Health Survey FindingsReplication and Expansion of the PHCTPDuring the last 15 years, the Pavee Point Primary Health Care for Travellers Project has demonstratedthat this model can help to significantly improve Primary Health Care for Travellers. As a result, otherTraveller organisations have decided to replicate this type of Project with their own local health serviceprovider. There are now 40 Primary Health Care for Traveller Projects at varying stages of development,located around the country.The model involves enabling individuals and organisations to improve health through informed healthcare, self-help and mutual aid. It means encouraging and supporting local initiatives for health. Cruciallyit is a flexible system that can be adapted to the health problems, the culture or ‘way of life’, and thestage of development reached by the community. Design and implementation of successful PHCTPs isdetermined through a process that values empowerment, partnership and advocacy, allowing partnersto highlight inequity and negotiate solutions.Through using community development principles PHCTP has facilitated community participation bybuilding capacity and supporting the community to identify and address health issues. This approachhas empowered individuals to enhance skills, take control and participate in decisions that affect theirlives in order to address the health of their community.‘This is the first time Travellers have got this type of training and job. We understand our own people andbelieve that given the proper support and resources we can begin to improve the health of our community. Itis no longer acceptable that only two out of every 100 Travellers lives to 65 years of age’Missie Collins, Community Health Worker, at the launch of the Primary Health Care forTravellers Report by Mr. Michael Noonan, T.D., Minister for Health. 12th June 1996Measures of Overcoming Barriers to Health Promotion andHealthcare for Minority Populations: International ExperienceThere is a strong international literature on the health needs of minority groups ranging for examplefrom the Inuits of Canada (Young, 2003; 2005; Health Council of Canada, 2005), the Aboriginals andMaoris of Australia and New Zealand (Carson et al., 2007; Davis et al., 2006; Anderson et al., 2006; Pincock,2008) Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans in the United States (Rhoades, 2003; Roubideaux, 2005;Kaufman et al., 1998) and South America, immigrant Asian and West Indian populations in the UnitedKingdom (Davey-Smith et al., 2000; Smaje and Le Grand, 1997), and Roma and Gypsy populations inEurope (Parry et al., 2007; Cemlyn, 2009; Vokó et al., 2009; Hajioff and McKee, 2000). Indeed the Irish inBritain and the US have been documented extensively also (Clucas, 2009; Kelleher et al., 2006; Scally,2004; Garrett, 2002; Abbotts et al., 1997). This literature concerns itself with several aspects of cateringequitably for distinctive groups and individuals across society. At the level of provision of services,barriers may be encountered such as language and norms of behaviour. Healthcare providers mayfail to appreciate nuances of understanding that lead to an inadequate treatment experience. Accessmay be impeded by resources, eligibility and means of payment. Cultural aspects such as family andsocial support and the differing needs of men and women are all considerations. Practicalities in27