News
All Ireland Traveller Health Study: Birth Cohort Study Released September 2011
Travellers are a minority ethnic group with different perceptions of health, disease and care needs, they require special consideration in health care.
The most recent study - the All Ireland Traveller Health Study or ‘Our Geels’, completed and published in September 2010, showed that Traveller health status is significantly poorer than that of the majority population. Traveller women live 11 years fewer on average than settled women and Traveller men live some 15 years less than settled men. This actually represents a disimprovement in Traveller Health status since the previous systematic study of Traveller health conducted in 1987.
The distinct characteristics of Travellers imply that innovative approaches to service organisation, content and delivery are required if health conditions are to improve.
Our Primary Health Care for Traveller’s project began as a joint project between Pavee Point and the Northern Area Health Board and seeks to respond to this situation. The project has been up and running since 1994.
National Traveller Health Network
In addition, Pavee Point facilitates the National Traveller Health Network, the network of primary health care teams working for Travellers across Ireland. The Network has its own website, for its members, and it can be accessed here.
Aim
To improve the health status and quality of life of Travellers in what was Community Care Area 6 (Dublin).
Awards
This project won a World Health Organisation Award in May 2000 and a Guinness Living Dublin Award in 2002.
Work of the Project
This project currently sees 16 Traveller women working as Community Health Workers in Community Care Area 6.
The work includes:
- In-service training for health professionals
- Community based health liaison work
- On-site health education sessions
- Co-ordinating visits to a variety of clinics
- Production of Traveller specific health promotion material
- Research on and survey of Traveller health
- Media work
- Organising seminars and conferences
- Representing Traveller health issues on the National Traveller Health Advisory Committee
- Facilitation of the National Traveller Health Network
When presented with their Community Health Worker Certificates in 1998 by the then Minister for Health, Brian Cowen TD, Missie Collins said:
“This is the first time Travellers have got this type of training and job. We understand our own people and believe that given the proper support and resources we can begin to improve the health of our community. It is no longer acceptable that Travellers die so young.”
Replication of the Project
The success of the project has seen it replicated by numerous Traveller organisations and health boards around the country.
To facilitate this replication — Pavee Point organised a Training for Trainers course, accredited by University College Dublin.
National Traveller Health Strategy
Primary Health Care for Travellers Projects are endorsed and promoted in the Government’s recent National Traveller Health Strategy 2000–2005.
Contact us:
