AQW 9939/22-27


Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast


Tabled Date: 11/04/2024
Answered On Date: 25/04/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what plans he has to implement robust cancer prevention strategies as highlighted in the Cancer Strategy.


Answer:
Action 1 of the Cancer Strategy seeks to "increase public awareness of cancer-related risk factors through specific strategies on tobacco, substance use, skin cancer prevention, and overweight and obesity – including diet and physical exercise”.
Making Life Better (MLB), the Executive’s overarching strategic framework, seeks to support the delivery of this action through work to improve health and address health inequalities. MLB is supported by a number of DoH led strategies that are designed to help improve population health and wellbeing through targeting specific areas where health inequalities are most prominent in our society. These include:
The 2011 Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy which has been extended to September this year. We will shortly consider next steps in this area.
The Tobacco Control Strategy for NI which has been extended and continues to provide strategic direction in this area of work. Work on a successor strategy has been delayed by current demands of potential NI inclusion in the UK Government Tobacco and Vapes Bill. We will recommence that work as soon as we can.
The Department recently consulted on a new obesity strategic framework - 'Healthy Futures - A Strategic Framework to Prevent the Harm caused by Obesity, and Improve Diets and Levels of Physical Activity in Northern Ireland'. Officials are reviewing and collating the consultation responses on the Healthy Futures strategic framework and will prepare consultation outcome reports for consideration in due course. Work to develop specific actions and outcomes will follow.
The substance use strategy, Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery, recognises the impact the use of alcohol and other drugs can have on cancer-related risk and seeks to inform and educate the public about this, and provide services which reduce substance use related harm.