Latest news with #HealthyCitiesInitiative
Arab Times
24-06-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Kuwait conducts training on advancing health-promoting malls across the GCC
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: The Healthy Cities Office at Kuwait's Ministry of Health launched a Gulf training course aimed at building the capacity of evaluators involved in assessing health-promoting shopping malls across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The two-day program, which began on Tuesday, includes both theoretical sessions and field visits to malls that have successfully passed previous evaluation stages. In her opening remarks, Dr. Amal Al-Yahya, Director of the Healthy Cities Office, highlighted the course's focus on establishing standardized measurement tools and evaluation mechanisms. She emphasized the importance of developing the necessary skills and considerations for evaluators in promoting public health through healthy environments. Dr. Al-Yahya explained that the Health-Promoting Shopping Centers and Malls Initiative, known as 'Muazaz,' represents a model for implementing the Healthy Cities Initiative's vision. The initiative aims to enhance public health by addressing social determinants of health and creating environments conducive to well-being. The course features Kuwait's experience with the Muazaz initiative as a practical model, providing trainees with exposure to both office-based and on-site evaluations. Dr. Al-Yahya noted that the training is aligned with the unified Gulf guide endorsed by the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities. She described the Muazaz initiative as a framework designed to encourage shopping malls to invest in health promotion. The framework has been approved by GCC health ministries and supports malls in enhancing health-friendly environments, making them eligible for official recognition as health-promoting centers. Dr. Al-Yahya also stressed the importance of transforming shopping spaces into environments that promote healthy living, particularly by supporting vulnerable groups such as individuals with disabilities, infants, pregnant and nursing women, and the elderly. Dr. Laila Al-Fuzaie, Director of the Healthy Mall Project at the Healthy Cities Office, echoed the initiative's significance in fostering public health and providing shoppers with a healthy and comfortable experience. She said Kuwait's development vision includes promoting community health beyond traditional healthcare services by building supportive environments that encourage healthy lifestyles. Dr. Al-Fuzaie pointed out that the Health-Promoting Mall Initiative has demonstrated the potential for integrating public health into daily life through strategic partnerships. She called for its expansion to all shopping malls and the integration of technology in raising health awareness. She also outlined the initiative's objectives, implementation standards, challenges faced, and key achievements — notably, the rise in health awareness among mall visitors. In conjunction with the training, Kuwait's Ministry of Health hosted the 24th meeting of the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities on Monday. The committee reviewed progress on the Health-Promoting Malls Project and discussed advancing from national implementation to a unified Gulf-level initiative.
Qatar Tribune
12-05-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
MoPH, WHO Regional Office host workshop on urban health
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently organised the 'Healthy Cities Workshop: Promoting Multisectoral Action and Monitoring Urban Wellbeing', in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHOROEM), at the Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City. The workshop is part of the joint efforts between the Ministry of Public Health and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean to launch a long-term national dialogue on urban health. The workshop marks the beginning of a collaborative process that will evolve through the organisation of a number of workshops to address urban health challenges through multisectoral action. The event aims to foster an open dialogue among key stakeholders regarding the current status of implementing Healthy Cities in Qatar. It reviewed lessons learned from past efforts, highlighting ongoing successes, as well as identifying gaps and challenges. Participants discussed governance and coordination issues impacting multisectoral work and suggested possible improvements. The workshop began to conceptualise a national roadmap for Healthy Cities that aligns with Qatar's public health, environmental, and development strategies. It will aimed to reintroduce and revitalise the Healthy Cities Network as a collaborative platform for action. The workshop continued to draw from regional experiences, including insights from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities in Saudi Arabia. In his opening speech, Assistant Minister of Public Health for Health Affairs Dr Saleh Ali Al Marri said, 'We are gathering now at such a pivotal moment, as Qatar continues its efforts to promote urban well-being, sustainability and healthy living environments for all. 'Qatar has exerted great efforts in improving the Healthy Cities Initiative over the past years, as our municipalities, Education City and Qatar University, have shown a firm commitment to promoting environments that prioritise health, equality and sustainability.' He stressed that the workshop represents the starting point for the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean's reassessment mission. It provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements, tackle ongoing challenges, and outline a path towards developing stronger and more integrated healthy cities in Qatar. Dr Al Marri added, 'I am confident that through open dialogue, exchange of experiences, and multi-sectoral cooperation, we will develop valuable visions and a renewed vision for the future in line with our national development strategies and Qatar National Vision 2030.' Dr Sadriya Al Kohji, chair of the Healthy Cities Network of Qatar, said: 'The workshop serves as a platform for brainstorming and reflection to explore the successes achieved through the Healthy Cities Programme in Qatar and how to overcome structural and operational barriers. The discussions and sessions of the workshop contribute to define strategic directions, promote alignment with national and sectoral strategies, and lay the foundation for a national roadmap for healthy cities that lasts until 2030.' Dr Kohji added, 'The workshop also contributes to a clearer understanding of governance and coordination challenges and mitigation options, while identifying priorities and gaps in monitoring and evaluation systems across municipalities and institutions, and identifying initial inputs towards a national roadmap and strategic priorities for healthy cities until 2030.' Najla Khaled Al Mulla, a member of the Healthy Cities Network at the Ministry of Municipality, said: 'Reactivating the Healthy Cities Network is an important step towards enhancing the health of the population and improving their quality of life, in order to achieve more sustainable and healthier cities.
Arab Times
08-02-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Kuwait to host the second Conference on Healthy Cities
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 8: The Healthy Cities Office at the Ministry of Health in Kuwait has announced the second Kuwait Conference on Healthy Cities, under the slogan "Healthy Cities for Sustainable Development," which will take place on Monday. The event will be held under the patronage of Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi, with Dr. Hanan Balkhi, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), also in attendance. In a statement issued on Saturday, Dr. Amal Al-Yahya, Head of the Healthy Cities Office, noted that the conference will coincide with the tenth anniversary of the office's establishment and the launch of the Healthy Cities Initiative in Kuwait. This milestone provides a chance to reflect on the progress made, including the registration of 19 cities and the accreditation of 10, with one city having been accredited for the second time. Dr. Al-Yahya explained that the conference, which will run through Wednesday, will celebrate several successful initiatives. These include the accreditation of Sabah Al-Salem University as a Health City and the accreditation of four health-promoting commercial complexes. The event will also feature the signing of five memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with key government sectors to further strengthen strategic partnerships. Additionally, more than 1,000 community members have been trained on the skills necessary to meet healthy city standards. The conference will highlight various models of the Healthy Cities Initiative from GCC countries and the wider region. It will offer valuable insights from experts in community health, urban sustainability, and data collection, while also focusing on the development of health profiles for cities. Dr. Al-Yahya added that the conference will bring together international and regional experts to engage in lectures, workshops, and an interactive exhibition. This will provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas between healthy cities and showcase the services offered by various sectors, including government, private organizations, and civil society.
