Dear Colleagues
I've attached recent press release from Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety confirming continuing funding for Health Action Zones in Northern Ireland.
Best wishes
David McDaid
LSE Health and Social Care
Also available at 
http://www.ni-executive.gov.uk/press/hss/020719c-hss.htm
HEALTH ACTION ZONES TO CONTINUE - DE BRÚN 
Minister for Health Social Services and Public Safety, Ms Bairbre de Brún, has announced that the Health Action Zones in North and West Belfast and Armagh and Dungannon are to continue to be funded for a further 3 years to 2005. 
Ms de Brún said: "Investing for Health, the recently published public health strategy, emphasises the need to address inequalities in health by tackling the wider determinants of health through effective partnership working including community participation. The Health Action Zone approach is absolutely in tune with our aspirations for Investing for Health." 
The Health Action Zones ( HAZ) in North and West Belfast and Armagh and Dungannon were established as a pilot initiative for three years in 1999. The Zones were introduced with the aim of bringing organisations together to pool resources and expertise, to target health inequalities where there is evidence of disadvantage by implementing locally agreed strategies for improving health. Two further Zones were announced last year - one in each of the Northern and Western Health and Social Services Board areas. 
The Minister continued: "While the first two Health Action Zones have made a real and positive contribution to tackling inequalities, problems still exist and need to be tackled - the real impact on health can only be seen in the longer term. Health Action Zones have an important contribution to make in bringing together key agencies and the community to plan jointly and tackle issues efficiently. 
" Health Action Zones are developing the integrated approach advocated in Investing for Health. Their activities at a local level will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of not only of this Strategy but to other key Government priorities." 
Commenting on the announcement, Richard Black, Chairman of the North and West Belfast Health Action Zone said: "We have learned a great deal in the first phase of our development, taken a few risks, made mistakes as well as delivered an ambitious programme. 
"Developing and growing the partnership has been a key focus and has required a huge level of commitment and investment in terms of time and energy from all partners. Like all successful partnerships we have learned to listen, explore real difficulties faced by members and engage in opportunities for working closely together to address common goals. 
"It has been a period of growing together that has challenged the Council Members to grasp the possibilities and genuinely commit to working together at the highest level. This has at times been inspiring. 
"We have examined our strategic priorities and identified the areas of common interest where need is greatest and where mutual co-operation will have the greatest impact." 
Dr Jane Wilde , Chairperson of the Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone commented: "The HAZ partnership is building a cohesive community voice in an area which is deeply fragmented. This announcement provides a welcome vote of confidence to our partners in the Health Action Zone who are working tirelessly together to make a difference to the lives of local people in Armagh and Dungannon. We are seeing substantial evidence of the rewards to be gained by encouraging and supporting the community to improve their health and wellbeing." 
Ms de Brún concluded by saying: "I am pleased to be able to announce the continuation of support to the Health Action Zones in North and West Belfast and Armagh and Dungannon. This will enable them to run alongside the new Investing for Health Partnerships to assist on a practical level and play a key role in the successful implementation of Investing for Health both at a local level and in terms of the positive learning they can bring to others." 
NOTES TO EDITORS: 
        The first two Health Action Zones in the North and West Belfast and Armagh and Dungannon districts were established in 1999 to tackle health improvement in a holistic way, brining together the main statutory, voluntary agencies and the community. 
        North and West Belfast HAZ has 3 main areas for action - 
*       Making sure that children up to the age of 12 years have a better start in life. 
*       Improving services for young people. 
*       Addressing health and social inequality through a community development approach.
        Armagh and Dungannon HAZ programmes focus on: 
*       Rurality 
*       Housing 
*       Young people
        The second phase of HAZ were announced last year. The Northern Board Zone focuses on a number of Housing Executive estate areas or neighbourhoods which have health and well-being issues in common. The other, in the Western Health Board area, aims to tackle poverty and older peoples issues. 
        Each HAZ receives core funding from DHSSPS of £150k per year for infrastructure costs. 
        Investing for Health is the recently published public health strategy. It contains a framework for action to improve health and well-being and reduce health inequalities which is based on partnership working amongst Departments, public bodies, local communities, voluntary bodies District Councils and the social partners. 
        Each HSS Board is working to establish an Investing for Health Partnership at Board area level to develop long term local cross-sectoral health improvement plans to address the identified health and well being needs of their local populations to meet the strategic aims and objectives of Investing for Health.