The Institute of Public Health welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed today between the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland to strengthen North South co-operation on the public health response to Covid-19.
The MOU can be viewed here.
The MOU focuses on facilitating greater co-operation in a range of areas including public health messaging, research and programmes of behavioural change.
It has been agreed by Minister for Health Simon Harris TD and Minister for Health Robin Swann MLA, and the two Chief Medical Officers Dr Tony Holohan and Dr Michael McBride.
The document has the support of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government.
Suzanne Costello, CEO said: “We welcome the MOU agreed today between both Departments of Health. This builds on the existing and long-established North South co-operation to promote the health and wellbeing of the population on the island. This agreement will strengthen efforts to respond to the impact of Covid-19.”
Editors notes
About the Institute of Public Health
The Institute of Public Health informs public policy to support healthier populations in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
We do this by:
- research and evidence review
- policy analysis and evaluation
- partnership working
- specialist training and public communications.
We focus on promoting health and wellbeing, improving health equity, and reducing health inequalities throughout the life course.
The Institute has researchers and policy specialists from a range of disciplines based in offices in Dublin and Belfast and was established by the Departments of Health in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.