Health impact assessments ‘can improve life’

THE food we eat, the exercise we take, the houses we inhabit — with proper health impact assessments (HIAs) we can maximise the positive benefits of the world we live in, according to the Institute of Public Health (IPH).

At a major international conference in Dublin today, the IPH will outline how the use of HIAs in a number of projects has improved quality of life.

These include:

In Ballyfermot, Co Dublin, the IPH engaged with local stakeholders to plan for transport needs, a HIA on Traffic and Transport initiatives identified a need for more walking and cycling facilities, more walk to school initiatives and greater dissemination of information on public transport services.

In Southill, Co Limerick, a HIA of a local food co-op analysed whether the food was of nutritional value and how improvements could be made to bring more nutritious foods to lower socio-economic groups.

In Co Derry, a HIA involving architects, planners and the local community lead to the incorporation of a study space in homes that were part of the Dove Gardens regeneration project. This was in response to parents saying their children found it difficult to study because of a lack of space.

In Cork, a HIA assessing the accommodation needs of Travellers and involving Cork City Council is currently underway.

Owen Metcalfe, assistant director of the IPH in Ireland, said the purpose of HIAs is to influence decision-making in favour of health.

“It is planning for the future. For instance, do we want 10,000 more obese kids in Ireland in a couple of year’s time? Or can we assess what needs to be done in terms of the exercise they could get on the way to school and the food they should be eating at school?” he said. The IPH is calling for major policies and plans across all sectors to be systematically assessed in terms of their potential impact on health. “Given the importance of health to the economy and society it is important to have a systematic consideration of health in policy and infrastructure development,” Mr Metcalfe said.

The conference Healthy Public Policy — Is Health Impact Assessment the Cornerstone? is being hosted by IPH and takes place at Dublin Castle today and tomorrow.

Further information available on the IPH website:www.publichealth.ie