In pictures: Letterkenny becomes first town in Europe to launch new WHO initiative

Letterkenny today became the first town in Europe to launch the ‘Building Safer Communities’ initiative, devised by the World Health Organisation. Please click on the arrows to go through the gallery

Last year, the North West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force were one of seven Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces to sign up to participate in Alcohol Forum Ireland’s new national initiative ‘Building SAFER Communities: Preventing and Reducing Alcohol Harm’ which will be rolled out in 12 communities across Ireland over the next three years. 

Over the coming months, the initiative will be rolled out in Balbriggan, Ballymun, Canal Communities (Dublin), Celbridge, Cork city, Drogheda, Leixlip, Listowel, Monaghan, Sligo and Swords.

The project is one of five which has been funded by the Department of Health (Drugs Policy Unit). Professional boxer Jason Quigley officially launched the project. and speakers included Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan and head of Primary Care from the HSE, Mandy Dolan.

The event programme took a departure from many conversations about alcohol harm and alcohol-related deaths.  Behind the event is a local Building SAFER Letterkenny Steering group with involvement from youth services, academia, local government, An Garda Siochana, alcohol and drug services and local community representatives who will steer the project over the coming years.   

Ireland is the first country in Europe to roll out the Building Safer Communities initiative devised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Paula Leonard, CEO of Alcohol Forum Ireland, which has its head office in Letterkenny commented: ‘‘This project is significant – the combined population of these 12 SAFER towns is almost half a million people.

“The learning from these initiatives about what works, who needs to be involved and how communities can be engaged will provide important information to government on preventing alcohol harm in Ireland.    And that matters, as three people die every day in Ireland from alcohol related causes.     We are delighted to be leading out on this project together with the Irish Community Action on Alcohol network, with seven Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and with funding from the Department of Health’s Drug Policy Unit.        

“As all of the SAFER measures have been proven to be effective and are recommended by the WHO, we are confident that the approach works, however, we are working with the School of Population Health in Trinity College to evaluate the work.   Its really important to do this type of analysis.”