Background to convening Conference

The “Other Borders” International Women’s Health Conference is being organised by Derry Well Woman on behalf of the Cross Border Women’s Health Network.

Derry Well Woman has been delivering health and social care services to women, families and communities in the North West of Ireland since 1989.

During that time Derry Well Woman has successfully lobbied and advocated for change aimed at improving health status and reducing health inequalities.

In recognition of its achievement Derry Well Woman has won:

Charter Mark for excellence in Cancer Care - judged by DHSSPSNI
Community Health Impact Award – judged by the King’s Fund

Derry Well Woman has built up a substantial research portfolio on issues including:

• Women’s health in the Derry area (1994)
• Impact of selected health determinants on emotional health and mental well-being in North West of Ireland (2002)
• Impact of behaviour medicine approaches on cancer patients (2003)
• Childcare in border areas of North West of Ireland (2005)

Derry Well Woman began cross border work in 2000 when it led a cross border, cross sectoral partnership of 28 organisations in the development of “Other Borders”, a cross border health strategy for women in the North West of Ireland.

Building on this work Derry Well Woman has developed, and now leads,  the Cross Border Women’s Health Network.

The Network is made up of 38 cross-sector statutory and community & voluntary organisations from both sides of the border.

The Network is committed to collaborative action to improve health status and reduce health inequalities both within the North West of Ireland and between the North West of Ireland and other parts of Ireland.

Specifically the Network is overseeing three pieces of work being delivered by Derry Well Woman:

RESEARCH

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland is commissioned to carry out research aimed at:

• Improving the understanding of the impact of the Border and, of the impact of the conflict on both sides of the border, on health
• Improving the understanding of the role of women, particularly as it impacts on mental health, in our post-conflict society

ACTIONS TO REDUCE EXCLUSION

Cross Border Public Health Leadership Programme for Women
A group of 15 community health leaders will, in November 2007, complete a Cross Border Public Health Leadership Programme for Women, the purpose of which is to have, throughout the North West, a team of champions who are committed to cross border work and who will act in their local area to support the work of the Network.

Develop Ireland’s first Cross Border Anti-Exclusion Action Plan aimed at tackling the causes and effects of exclusion in the North West of Ireland by identifying actions which can be taken on a cross border basis by Network members and others.

ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNING

A range of events are being delivered aimed at:

• Improving individual and community capacity to effect positive change and
• Developing a collective commitment to a shared agenda.

Events involve bringing together community, statutory and political representatives from both sides of the border to develop and focus on a shared cross border agenda.

The Conference is being organised on behalf of the Network within the context of its commitment to securing health improvement by:

• collective action
• sharing with and learning from others
• cross border work.

In particular the Conference will provide an opportunity for Derry Well Woman to present, on behalf of the Cross Border Women’s Health Network, Ireland’s first Anti-Exclusion Action Plan.

The Plan, aiming to tackle the causes and effects of exclusion, will reflect an agenda set by local people across both sides of the border in the north west of Ireland and a commitment to action by Network members on this agenda.

This innovative work will be described both in terms of its process and the content of the Cross Border Anti-Exclusion Action Plan.

The Other Borders International Women’s Health Conference marks the end of the first phase of work of the Cross Border Women’s Health Network.

The Conference will provide an opportunity for members to meet with like-minded individuals / organisations beyond the north west of Ireland.