Greetings All, from the newly appointed Healthy Waterford Coordinator. Healthy Waterford is a member of the World Health Organisation Healthy Cities and The Healthy Cities and Counties Network under the National Healthy Ireland Framework. Healthy Ireland is a Government-led initiative which aims to create an Irish society where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health, and where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society.
The WHO focuses on addressing inequalities in health
and urban poverty, the needs of vulnerable people, participatory governance and the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. On a local level this means Healthy Waterford aims to engage with people in all the environments - where we live, work and play, to promote health and well being for all, reducing inequalities so that health and wellbeing is accessible for everyone in our communities. Health is everybody’s business.
It is an exciting time here in Healthy Waterford as we are in a period of growth and change. We are currently developing our three-year Strategic Plan and our Waterford Profile. In order to hear the voice of Waterford’s people and communities we have held a number of consultations in the City and County. We have also been out in the communities meeting with services and individuals to begin to build up a clear picture of the needs in Waterford in relation to their health and wellbeing. We have been linking with people from many different groups such as Social Farming, Social Prescribing, Age Friendly Alliance, local Councillors, Community Development Officers, Men’s Sheds, Waterford Child Care Committee, HSE, PPN, Shine Discovery, Waterford Council and Garter Lane but to name a few, to ensure our plan is comprehensive and Waterford focused. Hearing the opinions, hopes and needs of a broad spectrum of people from Waterford, City and County, has been a really interesting and enjoyable process and we look forward to the next steps and a positive future collaboration between Healthy Waterford and those community and statutory partners.
The vision of Healthy Waterford City and County is to reduce health inequalities which requires not only interventions to target particular health risks, but also a broad focus on addressing those 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. This will take all Government Departments and all sectors of society working together to influence and improve the various determinants of health.Healthy Waterford aims to bring together our local community, voluntary and statutory sectors to achieve a common goal of a healthier, happier Waterford. For more information please contact me at healthywaterford18@gmail.com or on 051 849639. My office is located in the Waterford Council, The Mall and Waterford Area Partnership, Westgate Park, Tramore Road. Healthy Waterford is funded through the Healthy Ireland fund through the LCDC and Healthy Waterford through the HSE.
Yours Kindly,
Brianna Connaughton
