18 Jun 2008

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness today attended the launch of the Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research in Northern Ireland.   In his speech he congratulated IPH on recently marking 10 years of working and referred to their successful work in developing partnerships for health across the island.

The Centre, in which IPH partner Queen's University and a number of other organisations including the Community for Development and Health Network , will research complex public health issues such as obesity, smoking and health inequalities.

Mr McGuinness said: “Public health is about all we do collectively – in government, as practitioners and as members of our own communities to address those issues that impact on health and well-being.

“In many of our communities there is an acceptance of poor health, and life expectancy cut short, for those living in poverty. We should not accept this, we need to bring about an end to poverty and raise the expectations of our community.”

Mr McGuinness wished all those involved in the centre every success.

“The Centre of Excellence has the potential to be a very valuable resource - to policy makers and practitioners, not just in health but across government, and to the general public.”