(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani attended a ceremony yesterday honouring all cities of Qatar as 'Healthy Cities', Qatar University as 'Healthy University' and Qatar Foundation's Education City as 'Healthy Education City' by the World Health Organization (WHO).
All municipalities of Qatar received the title of 'Healthy Cities' during the event, as a result of one of the National Health Strategy 2018-2022, projects.
The ceremony included screening of a documentary film on healthy cities for representatives of the Ministries of Public Health and the Ministry of Municipality, WHO, Qatar University, Generation Amazing, and Qatar Olympic Sports Museum, and concluded with the delivery of accreditation certificates to the recently approved municipalities and Qatar University.
After the ceremony, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior planted the first tree to mark Qatar's healthy cities, as part of the initiative to plant a million trees.
Eight trees were planted representing all eight municipalities of Qatar, which were awarded the“Healthy City” award, and two other trees planted represent both Qatar University as“Healthy University” and Qatar Foundation's Education City as“Healthy Education City” by the WHO.
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Their Excellencies Ministers and other dignitaries attending the ceremony to honour all cities of Qatar as WHO's 'Healthy Cities'.
The 11 trees planted are part of the“One Million Tree Planting” Initiative. All trees will be moved to DADU, Children's Museum of Qatar.
The ceremony was attended by a number of Their Excellencies Sheikhs, Ministers and senior state officials.
The Healthy City programme aims to improve the health of populations by promoting health and well-being, improving equity, enabling communities and preventing the main causes of ill health through incorporating health in all policies and enhancing cooperation and partnership across different sectors and the society.
With all eight Qatari municipalities being declared“Healthy Cities”, Qatar will be the first in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive the WHO Healthy City awards for all its municipalities, thanks to the Qatar's immense efforts to provide sustainable and healthier options for its population.
During the ceremony, the municipalities of Umm Salal, Al Khor and Al Thakhira, Al Wakra, Al Daayen, Al Shamal and Sheehaniya were awarded for their efforts as“Healthy Cities”, and Qatar University as“Healthy University” by the WHO.
H E the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior planting a tree to mark the occasion, while WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari (left) looks on.
Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari said,“Having all the municipalities awarded as Health Cities, in addition to Qatar University as“Healthy University” and QF Education City as “Health Education City” is an important achievement which comes as a culmination of the great efforts of all sectors of the country to provide sustainable options to achieve the health and well-being of the people of Qatar, guided by the wise vision of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and expresses the commitment to continue to work to improve health through active collaboration of all state's sectors and the society.”
H E Dr. Al Kuwari added,“As Qatar is looking forward to welcoming the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 fans from all over the world, Qatar Healthy Cities will contribute to enhancing fans' positive experience in the event. Last year, the Ministry of Public Health and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy signed partnership with WHO and FIFA with the aim of making the World Cup a beacon to promote physical and mental health, and a model to ensure that future mega sport events are healthy and safe.”
Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie said,“The fact that all municipalities of Qatar awarded by the WHO as 'Healthy Cities' is a great achievement accomplished by the collaboration of several entities in the country. This great attention paid by the highest authorities to Qatari cities contributed to their development according to the basics and standards of environmental, health and urban sustainability, which are considered key indicators of healthy cities. This success highlights the partnership and collaboration among the various sectors of the state, to achieve a high quality of life and to improve health, well-being and sustainable development.”
Read Also
The title“Healthy University” follows the“Health Promoting Universities” programme and is also part of the“Healthy Cities” programme.
President of Qatar University Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham said:“Qatar University's Award as 'Healthy University' demonstrates the great interest the university attaches to promoting health and well-being, and through its distinctive cooperation with various sectors of the country.
This also supports the University's efforts to provide more promotion and development programmes for the improvement of the health of the university community, in addition to initiatives targeting the Qatari community in general.”
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, said:“It is a pleasure to join Qatar in celebrating the award of its remaining six municipalities as“'Healthy Cities”, following Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities earlier this year. This achievement puts Qatar at the forefront of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where EMRO grants all its municipalities the status of a Healthy City.”
Read Also
Dr. Al Mandhari added:“The State of Qatar offers a model for the implementation of the 'Healthy Cities' programme, which will guide member states at the regional and global levels towards successfully adapting the programme to their country contexts. We look forward to building on our partnership with Qatar through our country office led by Dr. Rayana Ahmad Bou Haka in order to expand the scope of the 'Healthy Cities' programme in the region.”
Healthy Cities is a global initiative launched by WHO with the aim of placing health at the top of the social and political agenda of cities by promoting health, equity, and sustainable development through innovation and multisectoral change. This initiative is in line with the Regional Vision for the Eastern Mediterranean 2023: Health for All, and by All.“Healthy City” award is granted to cities that meet the criteria set by the WHO.
In February, the municipalities of Doha and Al Rayyan were awarded as Healthy Cities, and Qatar Foundation's Education City as“Healthy Education City” by the WHO.
MENAFN04102022000063011010ID1104964869
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.