WHO designates Doha, Al Rayyan as ‘Healthy Cities'

*QF Education City recognised as 'Healthy Education City'

 

 The World Health Organisation (WHO) awarded Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities the designation of 'Healthy Cities' and Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Education City as 'Healthy Education City' on Sunday at a ceremony attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani. The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and QF, organised the ceremony at Msheireb Downtown Doha.The ceremony was attended by HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, HE the Minister of Municipality Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, a number of Sheikhs and other ministers, Dr Ahmed al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), in addition to high-level officials from the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Municipality, QF, WHO, ministries and partner entities."We have 102 cities registered for the designation in the Eastern Mediterranean region since 2012. So far only 18 cities have been given the status of 'Healthy Cities' and two of them are from Qatar. Among the ' Healthy Education Cities' only two have entered the distinction and Qatar Foundation's Education City is one of them," Dr Maha El-Adawy, director of Division of Healthier Population at WHO, EMRO, told Gulf Times at a press conference. The 'Healthy City' initiative aims to improve the health of populations by promoting health and wellbeing, empowerment and equity among residents and preventing the main causes of diseases through incorporating health in all policies, which fosters co-operation and partnership across sectors and with the community.The 'Healthy Education City' award is part of the 'Health-Promoting Universities' programme and the 'Healthy City' programme. HE Sheikha Hind said, “Improving people’s health and wellbeing within our cities and communities requires shared commitment and action from many stakeholders, including Qatar Foundation.“Collaborative work of this kind has been instrumental in the World Health Organisation granting two municipalities in Qatar the status of a ‘Healthy City’, and we look forward to contributing to further efforts to make our cities healthier places in which to work, learn, and live.”HE Dr al-Kuwari noted, “The adoption of the 'Healthy City' initiative affirms Qatar’s commitment to achieving universal health. We aim to promote physical and mental health for all members of our population through our health strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. We have developed strong partnerships by bringing together policymakers, researchers, academics and leaders from different sectors and industries through the development of a ‘Healthy City Network’, to facilitate joint work and collaborations aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of our population.”“Receiving the WHO 'Healthy City' accreditation for Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities, as well as the recognition of Education City as ‘Healthy Education City’, is a reflection of the efforts across government and key stakeholders towards prioritising the health and well-being of the population of Qatar. This is the first step in our 'Healthy City' accreditation journey and we are committed to achieving this accreditation for all eight municipalities,” she added.HE al-Subaie noted, “The awarding of Doha and Al Rayyan as 'Healthy Cities' by the WHO affirms Qatar's commitment to transform Qatari cities into healthy cities, through sustainable urban development and high-quality life to improve the health and wellbeing of all people across Qatar. This achievement is a culmination of efforts to develop all municipalities in the country and to upgrade the level of projects and services provided to residents, to achieve the Ministry of Municipality's strategic goals of maintaining eco-friendly cities with green, healthy, and scenic facilities; and enhancing the ease of living and quality of life.”“Qatar has demonstrated significant commitment to improving health and well-being and to strong cooperation among partners from government, academia and civil society, ensuring that the health and well-being of its population remain a top priority. This reflected strong commitment towards the EMR vision 2023: health for all by all,” Dr al-Mandhari added. The 'Healthy City' programme is a global initiative launched by the WHO at placing health on top of the social and political agenda of cities by promoting health, equity and sustainable development through innovation and multi-sectoral change.