scholarly journals Theme cities for health: are they the superior Healthy Cities?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E De Leeuw ◽  
J Forbat ◽  
J Simos
Keyword(s):  
Health Equity ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Early Adopter ◽  
Sustainable Cities ◽  
Healthy Cities ◽  
International Networks ◽  
Political Analysis ◽  
Child Friendly ◽  
Transition Towns ◽  
Who Healthy Cities

Abstract Since the early 1980s we have witnessed a proliferation of 'Theme Cities' with the WHO 'Healthy Cities' networks a very early adopter, together with local government initiatives that focused on environmental health and sustainability. These days such networks range very broadly, from Citta Slow and Child-Friendly Cities to sustainable, resilient, festival, happy, garden, winter, safe, inclusive and many more theme-centered international networks of local governments and communities. We undertook a political analysis of the extent to which these networks formally recognise and address the drivers of inequity in societies around the world, and to which extent they are ready to act truly glocally. We found that 'Sustainable Cities' rank highly, with WHO/EURO and PAHO style 'Healthy Cities' a close second. 'Transition Towns and Communities' are in a category of their own and can be considered a potentially important political voice for glocal health equity. Key messages Healthy Cities are Theme Cities - but not all do well to promote health equity. Sustainability and health (as per the SDGs) have enormous glocal health potential.

Urban planning as a tool to enhance the health of city inhabitants

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-309
Author(s):  
Karolina Mackiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Healthy Cities ◽  
Who Healthy Cities

Abstract Urban planning significantly impacts the health of inhabitants of the cities. Living environment affects if people exercise or not, if they decide to commute to work by bike or on foot, if they feel safe and finally if they enjoy the wellbeing. The responsibility for urban planning is in the hands of the local governments. This paper presents examples from the European WHO Healthy Cities, particularly from Turku, Finland about innovative and healthy solutions in urban planning.

Urban Health and Healthy Cities Today

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyne de Leeuw ◽  
Jean Simos ◽  
Julien Forbat
Keyword(s):  
Urban Health ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Healthy Cities ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Global Networks ◽  
The City

The authors of this article purport that for current understanding of Healthy Cities it is useful to appreciate other global networks of local governments and communities. In a context where the local level is increasingly acknowledged as decisive in designing and implementing policies capable of tackling global threats such as climate change and their health-related aspects, understanding how thousands of cities across the world have decided to respond to those challenges appears essential. Starting with the concept of “healthy cities” in the 1980s, the trend toward promoting better living conditions in urban settings has rapidly grown to encompass today countless “theme cities” networks. Each network tends to focus on more or less specific issues related to well-being and quality of life. These various networks are thus not limited to more or less competing labels (Healthy Cities, Smart Cities, or Inclusive Cities, for instance), but entail significant differences in their approaches to the promotion of health in the urban context. The aim of this article is to systematically typify these “theme cities.” A typology of “theme cities” networks has several objectives. First, it describes the health aspects that are considered by the networks. Are they adopting a systemic perspective on all health determinants, such as Healthy Cities, or are they focusing on “hardware” determinants like Smart Cities? Second, it highlights the key characteristics of the networks. For instance, are they pushing for technological solutions to health problems, like Smart Cities, or are they aiming at strengthening communities in order to mitigate their detrimental effects, like Creative Cities? Third, the typology has the potential to be used as an analytical tool, for example, in the comparison of the results obtained by different types of networks in urban health issues. Finally, the typology offers a tool to enhance both transparency and participation in the policymaking process taking place when selecting and engaging in a network. Indeed, by clarifying the terms of the debate, decisions can be made more explicit and achieve a greater level of congruence with the overall objectives of the city. Indeed, Healthy Cities today need to make alliances with other theme networks, and this typology gives the keys to find which networks are the “natural best allies,” avoiding mutually harmful antagonisms. In that sense, the typology developed should be of interest to any actor involved in health promotion at the city level, whether in an existing “theme cities” policy process or as willing to participate in such a program, and to scholars interested in better understanding the main drivers of “theme cities” networks, a rapidly growing field of study.

Advancing health equity in healthy cities: Framing matters

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry M. Spiegel ◽  
Jaime Breilh
Keyword(s):  
Health Equity ◽  
Healthy Cities

scholarly journals City Diplomacy: Towards More Strategic Networking? Learning with WHO Healthy Cities

Global Policy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Acuto ◽  
Mika Morissette ◽  
Agis Tsouros
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Cities ◽  
Strategic Networking ◽  
Who Healthy Cities

scholarly journals Efforts to Promote Surakarta and Makassar as Children Friendly Towns

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-70
Author(s):  
Moh Ilham A. Hamudy
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Community Health Centers ◽  
Birth Certificate ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Head Region ◽  
Child Friendly ◽  
The Government

This study is about child-friendly city (KLA). This research is motivated by the lack of attention of the local government in protecting children and the issuance of Law No. 35 of 2014 on Protection of Children, which mandates local government obligations in the care of the child. This study sought to describe the various efforts made by the government of Surakarta and Makassar in realizing the KLA, the following supporting factors and obstacles surrounding the KLA embodiment. By using descriptive method and combine it with a qualitative approach, this study found some important points about the efforts of local governments in realizing the KLA. In Surakarta, for example, there have been several child-friendly community health centers (puskesmas). The Puskesmas is equipped with a private lounge complete with a childrens playground. In addition, services for children such as nutrition garden, corner of breast milk, pediatrician, child counseling services and a child abuse victim services also continue to be equipped, and many other programs. No wonder the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Republic of Indonesia assessment scoring 713 from a total value of 31 indicators contained in the KLA who had filled the city of Surakarta. Meanwhile, Makassar City has not done a lot of local government programs, because the relatively new Makassar proclaimed KLA and is still central to reform. Among the new programs are being implemented and the Government of Makassar is giving birth certificate free of charge, to build flats in slums, and make the two villages as a pilot project KLA. The factors that affect the embodiment of the KLA it is a commitment. Not only the commitment of the head region, but also all relevant parties. As a cross cutting issue, the KLA also requires institutional capacity. Not only is the capacity of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Agency as a leading sector in the KLA, but also all work units other related areas. The success of the KLA in a city / county is also very dependent on the commitment of all parties concerned built. In addition, the program can not be done KLA in a short time, and require no small cost. Penelitian ini adalah tentang kota layak anak (KLA). Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh kurangnya perhatian pemerintah daerah dalam melindungi anak dan keluarnya UU No 35 Tahun 2014 tentang Perlindungan Anak yang mengamanatkan kewajiban pemerintah daerah dalam mengurus anak. Penelitian ini berusaha menggambarkan pelbagai upaya yang dilakukan pemerintah Kota Surakarta dan Makassar dalam mewujudkan KLA, berikut faktor pendukung dan penghambat yang melingkupi perwujudan KLA tersebut. Dengan menggunakan metode deskriptif dan memadunya dengan pendekatan kualitatif, penelitian ini menemukan beberapa poin penting tentang upaya pemerintah daerah dalam mewujudkan KLA. Di Surakarta, misalnya, sudah ada beberapa puskesmas ramah anak. Puskemas itu dilengkapi dengan ruang tunggu khusus anak lengkap dengan alat bermainnya. Selain itu, layanan-layanan untuk anak seperti taman gizi, pojok ASI, dokter spesialis anak, layanan konseling anak dan tempat pelayanan korban kekerasan terhadap anak juga terus dilengkapi, dan masih banyak program lainnya. Tidak heran kalau penilaian Kementerian PPPA memberikan skor 713 dari total nilai yang terdapat dalam 31 indikator KLA yang sudah dipenuhi Kota Surakarta. Sedangkan, Kota Makassar belum banyak program yang dikerjakan pemerintah daerah. Pasalnya, Makassar relatif baru mencanangkan KLA dan kini masih tengah melakukan pembenahan. Di antara program yang baru dan sedang dilaksanakan Pemerintah Kota Makassar adalah pemberian akta kelahiran secara gratis, membangun rumah susun di kawasan kumuh, dan menjadikan dua kelurahan sebagai proyek percontohan KLA. Adapun faktor yang memengaruhi perwujudan KLA itu adalah komitmen. Tidak hanya komitmen kepala daerah, tetapi juga semua pihak terkait. Sebagai sebuah isu yang melibatkan pelbagai pihak, KLA juga membutuhkan kapasitas kelembagaan. Tidak hanya kapasitas Badan Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Perlindungan Anak sebagai leading sector KLA, tetapi semua satuan kerja perangkat daerah terkait lainnya. Selain itu, program KLA tidak bisa dilakukan dalam waktu singkat, dan memerlukan biaya yang tidak sedikit.

scholarly journals Promoting inclusive urban economies in a world of changing technology and patterns of trade

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Sustainable Cities ◽  
Critical Dimensions ◽  
Urban Economies ◽  
Implementation Processes ◽  
Development Outcomes

This paper is a shortened version of a ‘think-piece’ prepared as a contribution to the dialogue at the 2018 Kigali meeting of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network. Its purpose is to highlight both challenges and emerging practices in mobilising local governments, and other stakeholders, including those in other spheres of government and the private sector, towards advancing the scale and scope of local economic development outcomes around critical dimensions of inclusion. The paper is not intended to be an exhaustive report covering all the aspects of contemporary local economic development approaches, but rather to offer selective insights that might contribute to deepening relevant policy and implementation processes in an increasingly urban world.

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