Information and Communications Technology Strategy - for Consultation: Management Summary (PDF 75 KB)

Management Summary - June 2002

Oral Health Strategy - General Dental Services (PDF 121 KB)

Equality Impact Assessments

Oral Health Strategy - General Dental Services - Preliminary Consultation Report (PDF 144 KB)

Equality Impact Assessments

Information and Communications: ICT Strategy Vision Statement (PDF 323KB)

The Vision for ICT to Support Health and Social Care Services

Equality Impact Assessments - Oral Health Strategy - General Dental Services - May 2001 (PDF 72KB)

In 1998, a new law came into force in Northern Ireland – the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Section 75 of the Act places a legal obligation on each public authority to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity: • between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation; • between men and women generally; • between persons with a disability and persons without; and • between persons with dependants and persons without. åÊ

A Strategy for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting in NI (PDF 180KB)

This study was designed to examine critically the impact of a government-led policy document upon community nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice in Northern Ireland (Strategy for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in Northern Ireland. Action Plan for Community Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors, Working Together: A Focus on Health and Social Well-being, DHSS, 1996). The total number of participants was (n=409) and the eleven Health and Personal Social Services Trusts in NI were represented in the sample group which consisted of 93% females and 7% males. A questionnaire containing twenty items was designed and a pilot study was carried out with twenty-five community practitioners. Following the pilot study appropriate modifications were made to the questionnaire. åÊ

Breastfeeding Strategy for Northern Ireland (PDF 212 KB)

Northern Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. Low breastfeeding rates are associated with considerable morbidity, some mortality and increased health service costs for women and children. In Northern Ireland, several factors make the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding particularly difficult; these include cultural attitudes, commercial promotion of artificial milks and obstacles for the working mother. The aim of the Strategy is to promote and support breastfeeding. Medium-term objectives: - province-wide co-ordination of breastfeeding promotional activities - commissioning of breastfeeding support within the health service - detailed and uniform collection of infant feeding statistics - research into effective means of breastfeeding promotion - improved training in lactation management for health professionals - supporting breast milk feeding for special needs infants - raising of public awareness of the importance of breastfeeding - cessation of artificial milk promotion within the health service åÊ Long-term objectives: - adopt the recommendations following review of the milk token scheme in England - bringing the marketing of infant foods and feeding products into line with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes åÊ Progress will be monitored by the Northern Ireland Breastfeeding Strategy Group. åÊ åÊ

Strategy for Reducing Alcohol Related Harm (PDF 1044KB)

Alcohol, used responsibly and in moderation, is a normal and enjoyable aspect of everyday life for most people. Everyone is familiar with the wide variety of social settings in which it is consumed, ranging from casual enjoyment or relaxation to celebratory and ceremonial occasions. This widespread use of alcohol means that the manufacture and retailing of alcohol products, and its distribution through bars, clubs, restaurants and off-licences involves an estimated 32,000 jobs, both full and part time. The economic significance of this to society here is obvious. åÊ

Comparison between the Counter Immunoelectrophoresis Test and Mouse Neutralization Test for the Detection of Antibodies against Rabies Virus in Dog Sera

The detection of rabies antibodies is extremely valuable for epidemiological studies, determination of immune status in man, animals, and for the diagnosis of the disease. Several serological procedures have been described for this purpose. The present study reports a comparison between counterimmunoelectrophoresis test (CIET) and mouse neutralization test (MNT) in the detection of antibodies against rabies virus from 212 serum samples of vaccinated dogs. The agreement between both techniques was 79.7% and a significative association was demonstrated. The correlation coefficients between MNT and the CIET titers was determined considering 88 samples showing positive results in both techniques [CIET = 2 and MNT = 5 (0.13 IU/ml)] and resulted r² = 0.7926 (p < 0.001). The performance of CIET system was technically simple, cheap and rapid, and thereby it could be useful for serological monitoring of dog vaccination campaigns as well as for individual analysis.

Drug Strategy for Northern Ireland (PDF 669 KB)

This document sets out the new Strategy for addressing drug misuse problems in Northern Ireland. With a vision for all who work towards addressing this problem, four main aims are identified along with a set of outcomes. The Strategy has a minimum lifespan of five years with a first major review after three years. Since its publication the NIO is no longer responsible for the drug strategy - this work has been taken over by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.