Councillor and High Sheriff Christopher Stalford with Ruth Fleming Belfast Healthy Cities

Belfast was delighted to be invited and attend the Global Forum on Urbanization and Health organised by World Health Organization and held in Kobe, Japan.  Mayors and government leaders from across the world discussed and debated urban health issues.

The conference concluded with the “Kobe call to action” which called for leaders, mayors and governors to commit to:

• Promote health and health equity in cities
• Develop ongoing systems for regular and sustainable collection and analysis of disaggregated data
• Integrate health into all public policies through the use of intersectoral action in order to have a positive impact on health equity
• Systematise the use of health equity assessment tools to identify and respond to inequities, and to assess the impact on health of urban policies and programmes
• Utilise urban planning processes to create and build upon opportunities that address health inequities
• Invigorate mechanisms for the informed participation of citizenry in local decision-making
• Promote health literacy to support people in living healthier lives

Councillor and High Sheriff Christopher Stalford joined Ruth Fleming, Belfast Healthy Cities at the conference to represent the city of Belfast.