The County Longford Primary Health Care Project was established by LCRL in 2003, to address health inequalities affecting the Traveller Community. Supported under SICAP, the project is a peer-led initiative and employs trained Community Health Workers who are members of the Traveller Community themselves.

Our project contributed to the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study, published in 2010, focusing on key aspects of Traveller health. Life expectancy for Traveller men was found to be 15 years lower than for the general population and 11 years lower for Traveller women, with heart disease and stroke among the main causes. Suicide rates in the Traveller community are 6 times higher than the general population, accounting for about 11% of all Traveller deaths. Infant mortality rates were also 3.5 times higher than the general population.

Both Travellers and health service providers recognise that this situation can be improved only by working on the social determinants of health, such as: education, accommodation, poverty, employment, discrimination and access to services.

Currently, our 6 Traveller Community Health Workers and 2 Traveller Men’s Workers regularly visit over 160 families in Co. Longford, delivering health education and supporting people to access services that will make a difference in their social and health situations.

This project is funded by the HSE and is a member of the Midlands Traveller Health Unit, the Pavee Point National Traveller Health Network and the Irish Traveller Movement. We work in conjunction with the HSE Public Health Nurse for Travellers and the LCRL Community Development Worker with Travellers.

Our objectives
• To improve the health status of Travellers in County Longford
• To identify and address inequalities and discrimination that affect Travellers’ health
• To improve community participation and assist in the dialogue between Travellers, service providers and the overall community