A major conference aimed at tackling problems such as poverty, social exclusion, mental health and emotional well-being has taken place in Belfast today.

The inaugural Investing for Health Conference highlighted programmes and projects that are contributing to the overall aims of the Investing for Health Strategy, which was launched in March 2002.

Reporting some of the actions taken forward in the first year of the strategy, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Permanent Secretary, Clive Gowdy, said: “The publication of Investing for Health was met with considerable goodwill. Many organisations and groups throughout Northern Ireland have shown great willingness to become involved and have made a real contribution to developing and taking forward the Investing for Health agenda.

“We have made progress, but there is still much to do. In a caring society we cannot sit back while there are such glaring disparities in health between rich and poor. Our efforts have to be based at grass roots level, supported by policies and programmes at regional level and the allocation of resources to where they are most needed.”

A presentation was made by Belfast Community Circus representatives, who explained how through involvement with the circus, their confidence and self-esteem has been enhanced and their overall well being improved.

Gerry Potts and Billy Hobson, two adult learners representing the organisation ‘Engage with Age’, demonstrated to the conference how involvement in their local community, and with a forum for older people in Castlereagh, lead to them getting to grips with today's information technology.

Almost 400 delegates from a wide range of statutory, community and voluntary organisations involved in improving the health and well being of local communities attended the conference.

(MB)