Cork City has joined the National Network of Healthy Cities in Ireland.
To recognise Cork City Council’s involvement in the World Health Organisation Healthy Cities Project over the past five years, Minister of State for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, T.D, presented a certificate of accreditation to the National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network.
The Certificate was officially signed by the Lord Mayor Cllr. Des Cahill and Chief Executive of Cork City Council Ms. Ann Doherty on Wednesday January 11th 2017 in Cork City Hall.
Cork City Council joins Galway City Council, Waterford City and County Council, South Dublin County Council and Offaly County Council, in the National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network.
Following the significant development in 2013 of Healthy Ireland – the National Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing – the WHO Healthy Cities model has been identified as the way to develop key partnerships at the local level to implement Healthy Ireland.
To progress this, Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network was formally launched in November 2016, with an aim to:
- promote lifelong health and wellbeing;
- provide a means where local issues can influence national policy;
- provide a voice for Ireland in the WHO Network of European National Healthy Cities Networks.
The National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network has representatives from government departments, the HSE, the Institute of Public Health and the Federation of Irish Sport and local political and community representatives.
Minister Corcoran Kennedy, TD, congratulated Cork City on having the vision to be involved in the WHO Healthy Cities for the past five years and for making a commitment to work to become a healthier place for all. Minister Corcoran Kennedy added that “as a former elected member of a local authority I know that local authorities are uniquely placed to bridge the gap between national policy and local implementation. I know the influence and reach that local authorities, in particular the recently formed Local Community Development Committees, have in every community and I see huge potential for them to contribute to building a healthier Ireland”.
For more information visit corkhealthycities.com or healthyireland.ie
