Review of the Rialto Community Health Project

Abstract

The Rialto Community Health Project was established in 2003, as part of the Social Regeneration Plan (Whyte, 2005) with support from the HSE Health Promotion Department and Combat Poverty Agency ‘Building Healthy Communities’ programme. The health projects aim to ‘tackle the high rates of ill-health within the Fatima Mansions and Dolphin House estates and improve the holistic wellbeing and spirit of the community’. A non-funded review of the Dolphin and Fatima Community Health Projects was carried out to examine the impact of the project on the health and well-being of the residents of these communities. Overall, the findings suggest that the Rialto Health Project is addressing local health needs through providing services which are complimentary to Primary Care. The staff delivering the health programmes are respected by the attendees and have developed relationships based on equality and respect. The non-medical view of health within the project is providing a different perspective and experience of health in the Rialto area.