From the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland: Press release on new initiatives funded by the New Opportunities Fund in Northern Ireland.
MINISTER WELCOMES LAUNCH OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES FUND THIRD ROUND OF HEALTH PROGRAMMES (31/05/02)
The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Ms Bairbre de Brún MLA, today welcomed the New Opportunities Fund announcement of the third round of funding for health programmes here.
Speaking at the launch, held at the Gas Yard Centre in Derry, Ms de Brún said:
"The Executive has prioritised health through its Programme for Government and is committed to improving the health of all our people. The New Opportunities Fund health programmes to be launched today have an obvious link to the Executive's objective of Working for a Healthier People and have the potential to make an enormous impact."
She said: "Today's launch is another excellent example of the contribution which the New Opportunities Fund is making to health, by working with local communities and supporting innovative approaches to health and well being."
The new third round health programme will build on the work of projects under the New Opportunities Fund's Healthy Living Centre and Cancer programmes, and will focus on 2 distinct areas:
* coronary heart disease stroke and cancer; and
* palliative care.
The coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer programme aims to reduce the burden of disease, especially amongst those with the greatest likelihood of developing these conditions and prioritises areas of socio-economic disadvantage. The programme will help to reduce preventable disease and improve access to services by encouraging greater community participation and partnership working in preventative programmes. It is expected to play a key part in reducing health inequalities.
The Palliative Care Programme will fund schemes that provide effective palliative care and associated support and information services for children and adults suffering from cancer and other life-threatening conditions and will run simultaneously with the coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer programme.
Ms de Brún highlighted the timely the launch of the New Opportunities Fund Programme so close to the "Investing for Health" strategy which was launched in March of this year and added; "Partnership working will be key to the successful implementation of the Executives' "Investing for Health" strategy. I am keenly interested in initiatives which further promote and cement partnership working and which broaden participation in positive action for health through partnerships which include community groups, voluntary organisations, business and statutory partners."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The New Opportunities Fund distributes National Lottery money to health, education and environmental projects in England, Scotland, Wales and here.
The new third round health programmes will build on the work of projects under the Healthy Living Centre and Cancer programmes, which supported a partnership approach to tackling health inequalities.
Further information is available from the New Opportunities Fund at www.nof.org.uk <http://www.nof.org.uk/>
The final "Investing for Health" strategy paper was launched by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 27 March 2002. It is available by contacting the Investing for Health Team on telephone 028 90520721 or e-mail [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>. The Strategy can also be downloaded from the Department's website at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk <http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/>.
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