Joan Devlin, Belfast Healthy Cities programme director, and the High Sheriff of Belfast, Councillor Frank McCoubrey, welcome Louisa Avedano (Italy), Terese Karlquist (Sweden) and Daniela Pozinarea (Romania) to the recently reopened Lord Mayor’s Parlour
A delegation of European health experts received an official welcome to Belfast this week. Delegates from Sweden, the UK, Italy and Romania joined officials from Belfast Healthy Cities and the City Council on a two-day study visit examining healthy urban planning and the impact public policy has on the health of a region.
Belfast is one of ten EU cities taking part in the programme which is funded by the URBACT II “Building Healthy Communities” initiative. The study trip was designed to facilitate the sharing of best practice and experience. Significant work has already been undertaken in Belfast in the area of healthy urban planning led by the Belfast Healthy Cities’ (BHC) partnership.
Joan Devlin, Programme Director of Belfast Healthy Cities, said:
“The overall aim of the URBACT II project is to highlight the need to consider the implications for health in the development of all public policy. Health should be a primary consideration in the processes, procedures and tools used by organisations in the city responsible for regeneration and planning. This workshop will give partner cities an understanding of the concept and process of Health Impacts Assessments and how they have been applied in Belfast.
“Over the last two days we have been able to exchange views on the development of health policy, to share best practice and to learn from each other. It has been an extremely worthwhile visit.”
Lord Mayor Naomi Long said:
“Through the work of the Belfast Healthy City Partnership our city has taken a place right at the heart of European health policy delivery. It is vital that we learn from our European colleagues and indeed share experience with those who are working in similar sectors in different countries. Now that the City Hall is open for business, what better way to show off our city!”
