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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND |
The Healthy Cities Project was introduced as a concept to Cyprus during the consultation between Mr Khosh-Chashm(Regional Adviser of W.H.O) and the Department of Medical and Public Health Services of the Ministry of Health in the summer of 1993.
A National Healthy Cities Coordinating Committee (NHCCC) was established under the chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health. The aforementioned Committee consisted of:
- Ministry of Health. Department of Medical and Public Health Services.
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Union of Municipalities
- Cyprus Tourist Organization
- Scouts Association and
- Representatives from Municipalities which are participating to the project.
In November 1994 the Ministry of Health in co-operation with the Regional Office of the WHO, conducted a National workshop on Healthy Cities project in an effort to disseminate the concept of Healthy Cities project.
On the 6th of April 1996, a Mayors conference on Healthy Cities was conducted in St.Rafael Hotel in Limassol. The Minister of Health chaired the conference in which 12 Municipalities participated.
As a result of the above activities five (5) Municipalities, Pafos, Polis, Strovolos, Aglandja and Latsia, organized their own Healthy City Committee and participated in the project as well as in the national Committee. (Total population covered 110000) This was considered a very positive step.
A variety of relevant projects concerning environmental sanitation, recreation, lifestyle preventive medicine, athletics, nutrition, cultural centres, plantation of trees, were implemented.
For detail list of activities/projects taken up by the Municipalities of Strovolos, Latsia, Aglandja, Polis Chrysochous and Pafos Municipality refer accordingly.
Besides the above the Ministry of Health and Municipalities organized various activities such as campaigns to promote the "Mediterranean diet" in Municipalities of Lefkara, Strovolos and Polis and health education campaigns on antismoking, heart diseases and photo exhibition on environmental sanitation.
The financing of the above activities was covered by the Government budget, Municipalities and sponsors from private sector.
During 1999 (7 - 12 November) a delegation from Cyprus consisted from the Director of Medical and Public Health Services, the Head of Health Services (Representatives to the NHCCC) and two representatives from Strovolos and Pafos Municipalities who participate in the Healthy Cities project, visited the Municipality of Patra and they had the opportunity to discuss with Municipal officials the projects which are implemented within the framework of the Healthy Cities programme. The participants benefited greatly from the whole practical visit, which was financed by W.H.O., and successfully coordinating by local authorities.
Although officially Cyprus is not participating in the "Healthy Villages" project, a lot of the activities suggested are already implemented.
Villages are required by law to organize their own Public Health Committees (P.H.C) or Community Councils. They are responsible in their territory for the maintenance and distribution of water supply, collection and disposal of refuse, cleanliness, e.t.c. The P.H.C are guided by Government agencies especially by Health Services for Environmental Health problems. |
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