§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of mortality rates of Afro-Caribbean women; and what plans he has for health programmes to address these womens health needs. [68741]
§ Ms JowellMortality rates are available not by ethnic origin but by country of birth. Compared to the national average for women aged 20–69 years, mortality from all causes in 1989–1992 in England and Wales was higher by more than 25 per cent. for those born in West Africa774W and lower by nearly 10 per cent. for those born in the Caribbean, but not significantly different for those born in East Africa.
Last years Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation" set out the two over-arching aims for our health strategy: to improve health and to tackle health inequality, both of which are relevant to black and minority ethnic health. In addition, the Green Paper indicated that the strategy will focus on some key national targets—all of which are themselves relevant to different ethnic communities, supported by a range of locally-set targets based on local needs. This is particularly important for ethnic health since needs are not spread uniformly across the country. Each area needs to consider and tailor its responses to local circumstances. It is here where the local Health Improvement Programmes will be crucial to both assess and target specific health needs, such as those of Afro-Caribbean women.