Healthy Waterford History

Originally known as “Waterford Healthy Cities” the Steering Committee of the time was a sub-committee of Waterford City Development Board and was formed in 2008. The establishment of the original Committee was led by the Waterford Area Partnership and was designed to have a collaborative approach between community, statutory and private sectors.

In December 2010, Waterford City was successfully designated as a Healthy City by the World Health Organisation – the first city in Ireland to be awarded under Phase VI 2009-2013. Waterford joined over 80 cities across Europe in being a member of the WHO European Network of Healthy Cities. As a Healthy City under the WHO, Healthy Waterford covered Waterford City and Metropolitan area. Funding was provided by the HSE. During this time the focus of Waterford Healthy Cities was in line with the WHO focus of Healthy Cities movement which promoted comprehensive and systematic policy and planning for health and emphasizes:

  • the need to address inequality in health and urban poverty
  • the needs of vulnerable groups
  • participatory governance
  • the social, economic and environmental determinants of health

The primary aim of the inter-agency Steering Committee was to develop actions that enhance the physical, mental, environment and community health of people in their day to day lives as included in the Waterford City Development Action Plan.  Its members include representatives from: Waterford City Council, Waterford Area Partnership (lead agency), Health Service Executive, Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Waterford Sports Partnership Waterford City Community Forum, Waterford Institute of Technology, Community Health Network, Waterford City Childcare Committee and An Garda Siochana,

Waterford Healthy Cities became Healthy Waterford in 2017 with the establishment of Healthy Ireland as a national framework focusing on health and well-being and the introduction of the Healthy Ireland Fund- Round 1. The Healthy Waterford Steering Committee is now the Health and Well-Being Subcommittee of the Waterford LCDC.