Our lower lifeexpectancy isbeing tackled

HEALTH Minister Edwin Poots says social factors like drink and drug abuse that contribute to people from Londonderry and West and North Belfast dying younger than anywhere else in Northern Ireland are being tackled by the Public Health Agency (PHA) in conjunction with local stakeholders.

Alcohol and drug misuse, smoking, mental health and suicide are among the issues being addressed, said Mr Poots.

Last fortnight the Sentinel revealed people living in Londonderry can expect to die younger than people living in Cuba and Kuwait.

Now Mr Poots has vowed tackling health inequalities are being tackled here.

“Tackling health inequalities involves addressing the socio-economic circumstances that prevail across society. Health and social care can address some aspects, but collaboration with other organisations across all sectors, including with local communities is crucial,” he said.

“In addition to the range of regional programmes in place, the PHA is working in partnership with statutory, community and other sectors in these constituencies to invest in and support local initiatives.

“These are aimed at addressing both the social determinants contributing to health inequalities, and issues such as alcohol and drug misuse, smoking, and mental health and suicide.

“The new cross-Departmental public health strategic framework, which is currently out for consultation, will also seek to re-invigorate cross-departmental and cross-sectoral collaborative action to tackle health inequalities and improve the health and well being of the most disadvantaged in our society,” he concluded.