Assistant Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality Mansour Abdullah Zaid al-Mahmoud has underscored that certifying all the municipalities of Qatar as "healthy cities" comes as a culmination of the tireless efforts made by many partners concerned to improve the quality of life.
An initiative in Doha Municipality.
In a statement after the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified all the municipalities of Qatar as "healthy cities," al-Mahmoud said that these efforts contributed to the achievement of this accreditation by Qatari cities, most notably the implementation of the comprehensive urban plan for Qatar and the effective and directed investment in infrastructure projects in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy, and the Sustainable Strategy of the ministry.
 Mansour Abdullah Zaid al-Mahmoud |
Al-Mahmoud explained that the ministry has worked hard within the framework of its strategic plan to raise the level of services and health and environmental conditions, in addition to activating the partnership with various community institutions, through awareness programmes, activities, and health and environmental projects to build sustainable habits and create a healthy and clean society.
Care for Sidr trees in Al Rayyan
He noted that Qatar is witnessing a great renaissance at all levels and in all fields, especially the improvement of the quality of life of members of society, which made it one of the best places in the world in terms of healthy and safe living.
Al-Mahmoud expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Public Health, the Regional Office of the WHO for the Eastern Mediterranean, and all parties that contributed to this achievement.
 Mansour Ajran al-Buainain |
Director of Doha Municipality Mansour Ajran al-Buainain said that Doha was one of the first cities in Qatar to obtain the "healthy city" accreditation in February, explaining that this achievement came as a result of the efforts of all concerned parties to strengthen partnerships between various sectors in society to improve the health and well-being of the population.
Beach cleanup with community participation
He stressed that Doha's obtaining this accreditation pushes it forward with its ambitions to seek more of such achievements that are consistent with the visions and aspirations of Qatar in providing sustainable and healthier options for the population, striving to achieve the highest quality standards, and raising the level of projects and services provided to its residents, most notably the oversight of facilities, warehouses, and food safety, and increasing green spaces and parks in various regions.
 Mohamed Hassan al-Nuaimi |
On the most prominent efforts and initiatives of the municipality that qualified it to obtain the "healthy city" accreditation, al-Buainain said that 80 indicators have been adopted, according to WHO standards to obtain the "healthy city" accreditation and the accreditation requires achieving 80% of the indicators, at least 64 indicators, in nine different axes, including emergency preparedness, community participation, environment, and education, and this is what the city of Doha has deservedly achieved.
 Hamad Juma al-Mannai |
He pointed out that the municipality was also concerned with promoting health by developing joint institutional plans to provide a healthy environment by strengthening community partnerships and launching awareness initiatives that targeted various groups of society, raising awareness about preserving food safety, and following proper health methods in dealing with foodstuffs, in addition to its active role in monitoring facilities and ensuring the improvement of public behaviour, which leads to a healthier and more prosperous city.
Tree planting in Al Sheehaniya
Al-Buainain added that Doha has managed urban resilience and dealt with urgent challenges since the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020, as it took preventive, precautionary, and awareness measures to ensure the continuity of services and conducted periodic inspection tours of food facilities, stores, and facilities, in addition to sterilisation and disinfection campaigns for vital sites in the city to ensure the healthy and safety of the population.
 Jaber Hassan al-Jaber |
Plant a million trees initiative
The director of Al Rayyan Municipality, Jaber Hassan al-Jaber, expressed his happiness and pride at the WHO's accreditation of Qatar's municipalities, including Al Rayyan, because it represents the country's access to the ranks of developed countries in the quality of services in line with the spirit of the times and decent living.
He said that this accreditation and excellence came as a result of co-operation between the ministries of municipality and public health, in addition to many sectors and institutions of the State, whose positive and commendable impact has achieved a number of incentives for leadership, Al Rayyan Municipality includes many vital facilities that provide health-promoting programmes and services such as green spaces and sustainable vital facilities, in addition to urban transport represented by the use of bicycles, pedestrian paths and an environmentally friendly tram system.
 Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Thani |
The director of Al Wakra Municipality, Eng Mohamed Hassan al-Nuaimi, said that Al Wakra has all the capabilities that qualified it to obtain the "healthy city" title, as it came after proper planning and implementation of the requirements within the Qatar 2030 strategy to provide decent and healthy care for all, stressing that obtaining this title will give Al Wakra an additional credit in its record and reflects the progress achieved by Qatar in providing healthcare and a healthy environment for society and future generations.
 Abdullah Ibrahim al-Sada |
On the most prominent efforts and initiatives of the municipality that qualified it for the title, al-Nuaimi explained that the concept of Al Wakra "healthy city" is not limited to the health sector, but is an integrated system of standards, services and initiatives that improve the quality and lifestyle of all members of the community, from all health, social, environmental and economic aspects, including increasing green areas, providing walking tracks, preserving heritage buildings, reviving markets, the presence of complexes and others.
 Saleh Hamad al-Hadwan |
 Rashid Mishlash al-Khayarin |
The director of Umm Salal Municipality, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Thani, said that Umm Salal's victory with the title of a "healthy city" is an achievement that all are proud of to provide a safe, healthy and educational environment for the well-being of the municipality's residents and future generations.
He pointed to the municipality's efforts that qualified it to obtain the WHO accreditation, including providing public facilities and parks, paying attention to their development, providing a theatre for events, ensuring that the city is a good environment for the people of the region, developing commercial and private cemeteries and ensuring their health readiness in co-operation with the office of the Assistant Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs, pointing out that efforts will be continued in the coming period to improve the health and environmental aspects in all areas of Umm Salal.
An initiative in Al Daayen.
Sheikh Abdullah pointed out that schools at all stages, public parks, and commercial and consumer complexes were targeted to be urged to participate in the community, as well as cooperate with the Ministry of Public Health, Primary Health Care Corp and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
He praised the most prominent community events and initiatives implemented by the municipality, pointing out that greater efforts will be made in the coming period to improve the health and environmental aspects in the areas of Umm Salal Municipality to keep abreast of current developments locally and internationally.
The director of Al Daayen Municipality, Rashid Mishlash al-Khayarin, said that adopting Al Daayen as a "healthy city" means providing an integrated system of services to achieve all means to improve the health, well-being and happiness of the residents of the municipality's areas.
This important achievement is also added to the achievements recently obtained by the municipality, such as joining the Unesco Global Network of Learning Cities and winning the Arab City Socially Responsible Award for 2023.
Al-Khayarin pointed out the most prominent initiatives that helped Al Daayen Municipality to obtain this title, including the presence of Lusail city, the Sustainable City, the effective role of raising awareness of school students and the public in general, caring for people with special needs, raising their awareness and involving them in all events, providing welfare means for employees, providing training workshops in various fields and organising sports and entertainment competitions.
He added that the municipality has also paid attention to humanitarian work through encouraging phrases and gifts to provide welfare means for municipal workers and workers of restaurants and food establishments to encourage them to provide services with high quality and efficiency, interest in sports and active participation with the private sector to provide the best services to the residents of the municipality and work to provide a sustainable environment.
The director of Al Khor and Al Thakhira Municipality, Eng Abdullah Ibrahim al-Sada, said that the municipality's title of the "healthy city" is a great achievement and the fruit of the hard work of all departments, which in turn led to the achievement of international standards for healthy cities, both environmental, health, and urban.
He pointed out that the municipality has employed its efforts in achieving the comprehensive concept of "healthy cities" by providing a sustainable environment, establishing a large number of green spaces, parks and public parks, allocating places for sports, paying attention to public hygiene and waste recycling, instilling health awareness for community members, and maximizing responsibility towards protecting and improving the environment in which they live through lectures and workshops offered by the municipality in schools and parks.
the director of Al Shamal Municipality, Hamad Juma al-Mannai, explained that the victory of Al Shamal city as a "healthy city" was the of concerted work between the municipality and the relevant State institutions, and enhances the concept of health and its social determinants as an urban issue that requires commitment, cooperation and continuity between all State institutions to ensure the health and well-being of the region's residents.
He praised the municipality's efforts and its participation in various events aimed at promoting the concept of sustainable development among school students, pointing out that Al Shamal Municipality has obtained membership in the Unesco Network of Learning Cities, which contributed to supporting the municipality to obtain the title of a "healthy city", and also contributed to working with State institutions to finish the projects of Zulal Wellness Resort, air monitoring station, Al Ruwais health centre and wastewater treatment station, where the WHO delegation made a field visit to these sites and coordinated field interviews with project officials and introduced them and their importance and the services they provide to the residents of Al Shamal.
The Director of Al Sheehaniya Municipality, Saleh Hamad al-Hadwan, confirmed that the municipality's accreditation came to meet the conditions and standards set by the organisation, through the implementation of the comprehensive urban plan of Qatar by increasing green spaces, parks, sports tracks, ease of access to all services, and ensuring a sustainable ecosystem.
He reiterated that the municipality of Al Sheehaniya has recently intensified the planting of trees and green spaces and facilitated public access to all services provided, and the awareness team in the municipality has made periodic visits to schools to provide educational awareness lectures to students on issues related to agriculture and the environment, the importance of recycling to maintain hygiene and food safety, and how to choose healthy food.
