Created by the World Health Organisation, a Healthy City is a project that has its sights on taking care of people’s physical and social health and developing the region’s resources that let society perform its basic functions. It originated in Canada at the end of the 20th century, but the tendency toward the growth of such cities is popular nowadays as well. It is true that the reasons for development are based on the initiative aims that include the promotion of cities’ support in the sphere of public health and sustainable development and setting health care policy. Moreover, its present goals do not only include the improvement of quality of life or providing access to healthcare services. They also require the growth of green spaces and special points that provide citizens with needed medical supplies.
It is impossible to disagree that the initiative’s major objectives focus on enhancing a high level of health maintenance and expanding hygiene services for the public. It is especially visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Western Netherlands are quite successful in achieving these goals as there have been opened new jogging roots through some of their parks (Moham, 2021). Moreover, Health Cities are drawing the government’s attention to the problem of lack of financial support for their projects which are to build more hospitals and provide them with the newest healthcare devices. It is also noteworthy that Health Cities are a key partner for Europe in supporting the Member States and their cities and municipalities (Sminkey, 2021). They have become a platform for regular meetings on the topic of the pandemic
Expanding the idea of the main components of success for the participants of the initiative, it is necessary to point out that intersectional partnership has got huge development. Shipment, production, and distribution technologies and conditions are at the top level of their development, now providing assistance for healthy cities to operate properly (Zhao, 2020). Besides, the understanding of the importance of health is also an ingredient for success. The pandemic has shown that it is essential to take care of health and follow the instructions authorities give. If global citizens keep complying with what is vital, the pandemic danger level is likely to decrease in the nearest future.
References
Moham, N. (2021). Community articipation and empowerment in healthy cities initiative: experience from the Eastern Mediterranean region. Social Behavior Research & Health, 4 (2), 553-565.
Sminkey, L. (2021) The partnership for healthy cities supports COVID-19 vaccine outreach in 18 cities. WHO. 1-5.
Zhao, S. (2020) Healthy cities and sustainable innovation. In C. Springer (Edc.), Sustainable cities and communities (pp. 4-10). Springer experience.