Primary Healthcare showcase highlights Travellers working for the good of their community's health
Pavee Point Press Release
4 December 2008
Primary Health Care Showcase highlights Travellers working for the good of their health.
“For too long Travellers have neglected our health and been neglected by the health services-that’s why there’s less than 3 % of Travellers over 65 years of age” said Missy Collins, a member of the Dept. of Health Traveller Health Advisory Committee, at the launch of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Showcase this morning. “However with the start of PHC projects in the 1990s this situation has begun to change and Travellers have begun to have a say in what services we receive. For too long health services were designed by settled people for settled people and that has begun to change-a change for the better” she continued.
The Primary Health Care Showcase brought over 100 Travellers and health service providers together to Dublin Castle to share information on health developments as part of Traveller Focus Week. To coincide with the European year, the theme for TFW is ‘Intercultural Dialogue’.
Traveller Primary Health Care projects from throughout Ireland demonstrated the work that they are involved in. Examples of a range of resources and health education materials developed by PHC projects were displayed.
Opening the seminar Ronnie Fay said “PHC is a model of health that is particularly appropriate for the Traveller community. It recognises that your health is affected by your living environment-your access to water, toilets and electricity as well as your level of education and your income. It means giving people the skills and information to make decisions and choices about their health”.
Information on a range of positive developments were outlined at the seminar including the fact that the Royal College of Surgeons has a positive initiative in which a bursary is available to support Travellers training there. Currently 2 Travellers are training to be doctors there.
In closing the seminar, Bernard Gloster, HSE local health office manager and national lead on Travellers said "the HSE recognises the importance of Traveller PHC projects and has committed considerable resources to their development. We believe that the collaboration between Travellers and the HSE is innovative as it brings together different strengths and knowledge and results in an improvement in Traveller access to and experience of the health services. We look forward to continuing this process of partnership in the best interests of all concerned".
John Maloney, TD, the Minister of State at the Dept. of Health and Children, launched Primary Health Care training modules at the seminar.