HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, attended this morning, at Sheraton Doha Hotel, a ceremony honoring the cities of Qatar as “Healthy Cities”, on the occasion of receiving all the municipalities of the State of Qatar the title of ‘Healthy Cities’, Qatar University as “Healthy University” and Qatar Foundation’s Education City as “Healthy Education City” by the World Health Organization, which is one of the results of the National Health Strategy projects 2018-2022.
The ceremony included a screening of a documentary film on health cities for representatives of the Ministries of Public Health and the Ministry of Municipality, the World Health Organization, 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, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior planted the tree of Qatar’s first 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. 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.
With all eight Qatari municipalities being awarded as “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. Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, 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 considered 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 the State of Qatar, guided by the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and expresses the commitment to continue to work to improve health through active collaboration of all state’s sectors and the society.”
Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari added: “Accomplishing this achievement, with a short timeframe, demonstrates the hard work, commitment of the teams, and the strong partnerships we have established through the Healthy Cities Network, emphasizing the continuation of these efforts in order to improve the health and well-being of the population.”
“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 promoting Qatar’s guests’ 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 at 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.”
H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie, Minister of Municipality, 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.”
His Excellency added: “The vision that we are working to achieve through the comprehensive urban plan of the State of Qatar is to create an ideal model for a sustainable urban life that has all the standards and specifications that qualify it to be healthy, livable cities, through achieving the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Municipality in maintaining cities with green facilities suitable for human living and environmentally friendly. Healthy cities enhance efforts to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030 and implement comprehensive development and sustainable plans to bring progress and prosperity to society.”
The title ” Healthy University” follows the “Health Promoting Universities” program and is also part of the “Healthy Cities” program.
Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham, President of Qatar University, 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 programs for the improvement of the health of the university community, in addition to initiatives targeting the Qatari community in general.”
Dr. Al-Derham added: “We are keen to support the strategic objectives of the university by creating a stimulating environment for education and providing programs and services that will contribute to the development of the skills of young people and discover their potential, and this comes out of our belief in the important role of education and higher education in enabling young people to lead meaningful initiatives that contribute to the promotion of the health and well-being of society.”
H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said: “It is a pleasure to join Qatar in celebrating the award of its remaining six municipalities as “’Healthy Cities”, following the a of 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”. In addition to being ranked second among Qatar’s health universities, this milestone was made possible by the leadership and support of HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, HE Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari, and all current ministers representing the partnership between WHO and Qatar.”
Dr. Al-Mandhari added: “The State of Qatar offers a model for the implementation of the ‘Healthy Cities’ program, which will guide member states at the regional and global levels towards successfully adapting the program to their country contexts, and 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’ program 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 in the world that meet the criteria set by 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.
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.
Source: Ministry of Public Health