Stakeholder

Membership of WHO European Healthy Cities Network extended Belfast’s its membership of the World Health Organisation’s European Healthy Cities Network has been extended to Phase 5 of the WHO project, which spans from 2009-2013. Through the Belfast Healthy Cities partnership, Belfast has played a leading role in the WHO European Healthy Cities Network for 20 years and this latest designation will see Belfast continue to work closely with other European cities to build capacity, transfer learning and tackle the challenge of health and health equity in the formation and delivery of all Government policies.

Joan Devlin, Programme Director of Belfast Healthy Cities, said: “Belfast Healthy Cities has a long and successful history of working to address the health needs of Belfast and of helping to address the health inequities which exist across the city. This invitation to carry on our work within the WHO European Healthy Cities network is a vindication of the work we have been doing with policy makers in Belfast and Northern Ireland over the last two decades,“At a local and regional level, Belfast Healthy Cities has been a catalyst for change in promoting and exploring new ways and introducing new tools to address emerging public health issues, inequalities in health and developing new concepts.

“The partnership’s experience offers significant expertise to deliver the WHO framework within Belfast during Phase 5 and the knowledge that we bring to the European-wide initiative will be of major benefit to all participating towns and cities.”

The cities participating in the fifth phase of the WHO European Network have committed themselves to an overall target of health equity in all local policies as well as striving to address three core themes – caring and supportive environments; healthy living; and healthy urban environment and design.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency, welcomed the move, “Belfast’s continued membership of the WHO European Network for another five years is further evidence that Belfast is operating to international standards and the board of Belfast Healthy Cities are to be commended for helping put Belfast on the world health map.

“The partnership has earned the support of politicians and key decision-makers, enabling it to reshape joint leadership on the social determinants of health, agree strategic health priorities across the city and to strengthen the opportunity for joint intersectoral actions in addressing inequities in the population’s health.

“Thanks to the experience derived from participation in previous WHO phases, Belfast has proved that it not only has the dynamism required to respond to global health challenges, but also the required expertise to play an active role in formulating health strategies which will benefit all European member cities.”

On designating Belfast with Healthy Cities status for 2009-2013, Dr Agis Tsouros, the European Director of World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for Europe paid tribute to Belfast’s “commitment towards the goals and principles of health for all”, adding that its “experience and active engagement will provide valuable know-how in developing knowledge, tools and expertise that can benefit all European member states”.