The Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Waterford Councillor Eamon Quinlan held a reception in the Mayor’s Parlour to mark Waterford’s designation as a World Health Organisation healthy city under Phase VI of the European Network of Healthy Cities programme. He also unveiled the Healthy Waterford plan for 2015-2018.
This WHO designation marks Waterford’s continued participation in the European Healthy Cities programme which goes back to 2010 when Waterford as the first city in Ireland to be awarded this status. The Mayor noted that ‘ as one of only three cities in Ireland and 100 in Europe this shows Waterford’s commitment to the health and well-being of all who live, work and study here’
The mayor continued, “Good health includes not just our physical well-being but also our mental and social well-being. It is greatly influenced by the circumstances in which we live and therefore it is essential we all work together.” The mayor also added that he’s looking forward to the opportunity to promote this idea through Mayor’s Health Week in 2016.
The aim of Healthy Waterford is to drive local action and promote local leadership for health and ensure Waterford City and County is a healthy, equitable, resilient and vibrant place for all who live, work and visit here. According to the Mayor this will be achieved through “the involvement of all sectors – statutory, voluntary, business and community.” He also added ‘we want Waterford to be a great place to live for everyone, whatever their means and whatever their stage in life’’.
Joe Stokes Chair of the Healthy Waterford Steering Committee said “The WHO European Network of Healthy Cities provides a robust framework under which to promote health as a priority for all organisations in Waterford. Mr. Stokes also added that that Healthy Waterford Action Plan 2015-2018 identifies our priorities going forward and we are committed to applying these principles to Waterford City & County. The Healthy Waterford Plan is based on five goals:
Support people to be healthy throughout their lives.
Address major public health challenges.
Strengthen people-centred health systems and support ‘participatory governance’ for health where people play a more direct role in decision making.
Create resilient communities and supportive environments that allow communities to respond well to challenges and provide opportunities for its members to live healthy lives.
Support local leadership for health and recognition of the importance of health in social and economic development among stakeholders in Waterford.
The Mayor extended a special thanks to Kate Moloney, Healthy Waterford Coordinator and the Healthy Waterford Steering Committee who include representatives of the HSE, Waterford City and County Council, and Waterford Area Partnership, Waterford Childcare Committee, Waterford Sports Partnership, Waterford Public Participation Network and the Community Health Network.
You can find more information on Healthy Waterford initiatives and download a copy of our action plan at www.healthywaterford.ie. Follow us on Twitter @HealthWaterford and Facbook.com/waterfordhealthycity or contact the Healthy Waterford Coordinator Kate Moloney kmoloney@waterfordcouncil.ie to get involved.
ENDS