At the launch of the HSE's second National Intercultural Health Strategy we talk to the people involved to see why the development and publication of this strategy is so important.
Pictured left to right: Fatima Patricia Mofokeng, David Moriarty, Jesuit Refugee Service, Ruth Armstrong, HSE, Pat Healy, HSE, Minister Catherine Byrne TD, Minister David Stanton TD, Mwanaidi Mohammed, Diane Nurse, HSE, Tonya Myles, Cairde, Sarah Daku, Cairde, Aine Lambe, Balseskin Reception Centre.
Ministers of State Catherine Byrne TD., and David Stanton TD., today (Monday, 21st January 2019) launched the HSE’s Second National Intercultural Health Strategy 2018 – 2023 at Dublin Castle.
This strategy provides a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing the many unique, health and support needs experienced by the increasing numbers of HSE service users from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and who live in Ireland.
These service users make up a diverse group in terms of country of origin, economic and social backgrounds, education and work experience, integration and healthcare outcomes. Some are migrants (including foreign students, asylum seekers and refugees); some are members of the Traveller and Roma community. Some are newly arrived, while others are settled in established communities.
Various cross government strategies contain specific actions assigned to the HSE in respect of the health status, experiences and outcomes of members of minority ethnic communities across the country. This HSE National Intercultural Health Strategy represents a strategic response to integrating these actions, together with a range of additional specific health related actions arising from consultations, learning from implementation of the first HSE National Intercultural Health Strategy and evidence from international and national research.
The strategy comprises 3 key sections: Part 1 contains the strategy itself, including its vision, guiding principles, goals, strategic objectives within each goals, as well as actions required. Part 2 sets out the context and background to the development of this second Intercultural Health Strategy, the consultation process that informed its development, the evidence base for the strategy, together with relevant health system challenges and data collection issues. Part 3 sets out plans and future milestones for the development of a detailed implementation plan for the strategy.
Five main goals are outlined in the strategy:
- Enhance accessibility of services to service users from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds
- Address health issues experienced by service users from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds
- Ensure provision of high quality, culturally responsive services to service users from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds
- Build an evidence base
- Strengthen partnership working to enhance intercultural health
A report of submissions received during the consultation process has also been compiled and is available here.
Copies of the Executive Summary of the strategy have been translated into Arabic, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian and Irish languages.
Pictures above from the Launch of the Second National Intercultural Health Strategy 2018-2023. Top Left: Diane Nurse, HSE, Minister Catherine Byrne TD, Minister David Stanton TD. Top Right: Fatima Patricia Mofokeng, Mwanaidi Mohammed. Bottom Left: Pat Healy, HSE. Bottom Right: Musicantia.
