WHO European Healthy Cities Network welcomes 6 new Phase VII members

27 October 2021

The WHO European Healthy Cities Network welcomes 5 new cities and 1 national network in its Phase VII, which began in 2019 and has been extended until 2025.

The new joiners are Cork in Ireland, Rijeka in Croatia, İzmir, Karşıyaka and Trabzon in Turkey, and the Czech National Network of Healthy Cities.

The Network’s activities are organized in phases, where each phase focuses on different priorities. The current phase prioritizes the themes presented in the Copenhagen Consensus of Mayors, which is inspired by and aligned with Health 2020, the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and WHO’s European Programme of Work (2020–2025).

Cities and local governments are central in responding to and recovering from the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Click through the photo stories below to find out more about the new Phase VII members and their efforts to put health high on their social and political agendas.

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The city of Cork in Ireland is determined to build back a healthier and more resilient society. To this end, this Healthy City is moving away from a focus on individual behaviours to a more collective approach to health. For example, PSYCHED (Positive Support You Can Have Every Day) is a programme which supports mental health and well-being in the workplace.

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“Green spaces for health” is another initiative in Cork, which helps communities build a relationship with nature, yielding profound benefits for physical and mental well-being. Working with partners, Cork Environmental Forum, the Lantern Project and Nano Nagle Place, the city aims to champion the needs of those most marginalized and disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Cork city explores innovative and sustainable ways of tackling challenges faced by many cities, including ageing, climate change and social exclusion. Through the URBACT Playful Paradigm transfer network, the city is exploring the use of play for promoting social inclusion, healthy lifestyles and economic prosperity.

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The Czech National Network of Healthy Cities creates tools and opportunities for politicians, public officials, citizens and nongovernmental organizations to develop their communities. The National Network also keeps an online database of good practices, to inspire and promote network members. The city of Valašské Meziříčí is featured, promoting activities that engage older people in community life and help build an age-friendly city.

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Initiatives that encourage contributions from young people in shaping their schools and cities are also listed on the Czech National Network. There are now dozens of events in the country where young people learn how to communicate their ideas effectively. The city of Litoměřice also developed a methodology for involving children and young people in these discussions.

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The city of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm in Czechia challenged all pupils and their families to walk or bike to school and work. They also conducted an online questionnaire to learn how to improve their transportation infrastructure in line with the people’s needs. The “City and movement portal” on the National Network showcases examples of initiatives such as this, which promote a healthy lifestyle for people of different ages and social groups.

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The city of Rijeka in Croatia is strengthening partnerships between different stakeholders working in the field of mental health. Every year since 2016 the city has hosted Mentalfest, a festival which educates young people on how to recognize mental health problems. The event aims to reduce the number of psychiatric in-patients, as well as social isolation and stigma.

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Rijeka promotes the social inclusion and integration of students with disabilities. Teaching assistants trained by the city work with students with disabilities in 24 schools in Rijeka. In addition, a documentary film about the project has been screened in local cultural institutions to sensitize viewers about the importance of inclusive education.

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In a bid to increase energy efficiency in Rijeka, 7 solar farms were built on buildings owned by the city administration. From 2013 to 2021, 50 buses powered by compressed natural gas were added to the city’s transport fleet. These efforts have resulted in reduced carbon dioxide emissions, less traffic noise, and improvements in the public transport system, as buses are equipped with air conditioning and ramps for people with disabilities.