AVAILABILITY
Róisín Devoy
CFI Co-Ordinator
Blanchardstown Area Partnership
HI – Goal 2:Reduce health inequalities
Health and wellbeing are not evenly
distributed across Irish society. This goal
requires not only interventions to target
particular health risks, but also a broad focus
on addressing the wider social determinants of
health – the circumstances in which people are
born, grow, live, work and age – to create
economic, social, cultural and physical
environments that foster healthy living.
Availability
In Ireland, 61% of all adults and 25% of 3yr
olds are overweight or obese.
9% of 3yr olds in lower socio-economic groups
are obese compared to 5% in higher socioeconomic groups.
What is a Food Desert?
• No fresh healthy food available locally.
• Nearest shops were 2 miles away – no
infrastructure to get to them.
• Transport, infrequent buses, routes not served.
• Busy roads to cross, no pedestrian lights
How to get to the Shops?
Development
• Things have changed – work done over the
years by Partnerships and CDPS engaging with
the local community, identifying issues and
working with local authorities and statutory
agencies to improve them.
• New convenience store 2009
• Fresh food is available locally now and a wider
selection of supermarkets within 2 miles to
choose from.
Convenience Store!
• The type of food available is 90%
convenience/fast food/junk food/processed.
• Only 10% or less is fresh food, including fruit, veg,
meat and fish.
• It is difficult for people to choose the healthier
option when there is such saturation of the junk
foods which are heavily promoted and often on
discounts or deals and so convenient to eat –
very often with no preparation needed.
What CFI’s are doing:
• The work of CFI is to make healthy food
AVAILABLE, affordable and accessible.
• Building Community Gardens, Educating,
Planning micro business, i.e. – creating
economic, social, cultural & physical
environments that foster healthy living.
• CFI creating a healthy environment with fresh
food growing in the heart of the community.
• Fresh healthy food on view, it becomes visible,
available, not brushed under the carpet.
• Create Choices - a vibrant local economy and
environment, farmers market, community
cafe.
Delivering a Service
• People want to engage and we should be able
to meet that need.
• When people are involved with their own
health the outcomes are much better for
everyone.
• Interventions do work – education
programmes, people have the information are
motivated and want to learn more.
Healthy Ireland
• A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025, by the
Department of Health and Children
The rationale for taking on this significant programme of work is clear – both
in terms of health costs and potential health benefits. Proven economic
benefits flow from having a healthy society. Prevention at the population level
results in better value, increased productivity and improved quality of life. [46]
Unless we change course, healthcare will become unaffordable for society and
for the country.
Supporting Government
Intersectoral Approach – a whole-system response. Whole-of-government and
whole-of-society approaches, often termed Health in All Policies (HiAP)
highlight the fact that the risk factors of major diseases, or the determinants of
health, are modified by measures that are often managed by other
Government sectors as well as by other actors in society. Broader societal
health determinants such as education, employment and the environment
influence the distribution of risk factors in the population, thereby resulting in
health inequalities. Whole-system approaches shift the emphasis slightly from
individual lifestyles and single diseases to societal factors and actions that
shape our everyday living environments.
Examples of various sectors involved with our CFI – Fingal C.C., Institute of
Technology Blanchardstown, St. Patricks N.S., local volunteers, community
groups, Scouts, RAPID, Resource Centre, Mens Sheds, Community Campus.
Supporting CFI’s?
Partnerships and Reaching Beyond Government: Effective partnerships with
citizens and communities, supported by a wide network of public and private
stakeholders, are essential to gain insights into health and wellbeing at the
local level. Building partnerships wins support for action at grassroots level
and contributes to community development. [3] Identifying partners at every
level of society, from government to business, to community and family will
contribute to the implementation of mutually beneficial health and wellbeing
programmes.
•We are happy to help.
THANK YOU!