By Alan Rodgers
FIGURES which show the levels of deprivation in the Strabane area indicate the key efforts which are needed to address issues surrounding home safety locally.
That's according to the Senior Environmental Health Officer with the District Council here, Paddy Cosgrove.
He was speaking as the Western Home Environmental Assessment Project was launched last week, aimed at reducing home accidents, fuel poverty and the fear of crime.
He says the time is right to address fuel poverty throughout both the urban and rural localities.
From 2003 and 2006, fuel poverty decreased by 5% from 46% to 41% and now officials want to see that going down even further.
"We have address through also improving the air quality. But obviously there's still more work to be done, especially in the rural areas,' he said.
"We would be appealing to people in countryside who may or may not think that they have a fuel poverty issue, their insulation, boilers or whatever to get in touch with us and we'll get onto it.
"What we have to remember is that the price of fuel is not going to get any cheaper. It is always going to rise and that is why we are encouraging people to avail of programmes such as this.
"There is a full-time worker and all the officers in Environmental Health Department will be aware of what is going on," he continued.
Tony O' Doherty from the Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum shared the benefit of his experience with attendees, highlighting the various programmes and initiatives that have been successful for them.
He gave examples of working with the Accident and Emergency Department in Altnagelvin Hospital to capture statistics of the number of attendees and admissions to hospital as the result of Home Accidents, thus highlighting the need for projects like WHEAP.
If you want to find out more about the Western Home Environmental Assessment Project or how you can register for a home visit then contact Nicola Sweeney, the WHEAP Co-ordinator.
She can be contacted on 028 8225 6202 or email nicola.sweeney@omagh.gov.uk
