The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Colm Burke has accepted a nomination as National Political Representative to the National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network.
The Minister will represent Ireland at the World Health Organisation (WHO) European Healthy Cities Network. This is a key mechanism in the global WHO Healthy Cities programme which has been operating since 1987, with the aim of supporting local action to prioritise public health.
The National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network agreed a 3 year work programme in 2023 focused on creating healthier environments, reducing health inequities, and enhancing the quality of life for all people through various innovative initiatives and partnerships.
The aim of the Network is to develop the structures necessary to support the Healthy Cities and Counties Programme across the 31 Local Authorities, integrating wellbeing into core activity through fostering partnerships that support the WHO’s Phase VII goals (2019-2024). Much of this is achieved through political leadership and facilitating place-based approaches and includes work in areas such as early intervention, preventative approaches, creating and shaping wellbeing environments and facilitating health literacy approaches within communities.