Sláintecare Healthy Communities launches in Cherry Orchard and Ballyfermot

THE Cherry Orchard and Ballyfermot Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme is launching this week – and everyone living and working locally is invited to attend.

Members of the public, community groups and professionals local to the area are invited to the launch on Thursday, April 27, in the Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre.

The launch will give members of the public and stakeholders an opportunity to meet with delivery partners and programme facilitators to gain more information about the project and how to get involved.

Introduced nationally in 2021, Sláintecare Healthy Communities is a cross-Government initiative to deliver increased health and wellbeing services in 19 areas of greatest need across Ireland.

The launch of Cherry Orchard & Ballyfermot Sláintecare Healthy Communities is the result of close collaboration between the Department of Health, the HSE, Dublin City Council and the Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership.

The event on Thursday will highlight the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programmes being delivered locally by Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership and the local HSE Health Promotion Officer, Tina Daly, in partnership with Dublin City Council and the HSE.

These include, for example, supports to stop smoking, parenting programmes and Healthy Food Made Easy.

There is also a programme that empowers local health professionals to deliver brief interventions and advice to support healthy behaviours.

According to Joanna Kelly, Local Development Officer with DCC: “Our aim is to work collectively to help address the wider socioeconomic determinants of ill health through delivering local initiatives and working in partnership, seeking to improve the conditions in which people are born, live, grow, work and age that affect our health outcomes.

“In addition, the Department of Health allocated €250,000 Community Enhancement fund towards the development of the Ballyfermot People’s Park.”

Joanna will facilitate a panel discussion on the day to highlight some of the local projects supported by Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme enhancement and SEED Fund.

This discussion will include Fiona Kearney of FamiliBase, Audrey Coyne of Ballyfermot Resource Centre, and David Donovan of The Orchard Centre.

Local councillor Vincent Jackson, representing Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy, will also be present on the day to formally launch the event.

Other guest speakers include Tom James, Head of Health and Wellbeing, Dep of Health, Margaret McQuillan, Head of Health & Wellbeing, HSE Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow, and Alan Sherry, Dublin City Council Local Area Manager.

Anne Fitzgerald, CEO of the Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership, will also speak on the day while members of the Dublin 10/20 Men’s Shed band will perform.

Everyone is welcome to be part of this informative event on community wellbeing, which starts at 10.30am on Thursday, April 27.

Those interested in attending can RSVP to info@dublincityinclusion.ie.