Saudi Arabia Achieves Leadership In Healthy Cities With 16 WHO Accreditations In Eastern Mediterranean Region

Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant milestone by leading the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region with 16 WHO-accredited Healthy Cities. This accomplishment highlights the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Health’s Healthy Cities Program and the Saudi Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies. These initiatives have successfully created sustainable environments that improve residents' quality of life.

The Healthy Cities Program in Saudi Arabia is notable for being the first WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities in the region and only the fourth worldwide. The program collaborates with various government agencies to redefine health as an integral part of daily living. By promoting healthy urban planning, encouraging community involvement, and empowering residents, cities are becoming supportive environments for both physical and mental health.

Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel emphasised that this progress reflects Saudi Arabia's dedication to prioritising human health as a cornerstone of urban development. This commitment aligns with Vision 2030's Quality of Life Program and Health Sector Transformation Program. AlJalajel noted that these efforts focus on prevention, empowering individuals in their health management, investing in technology, and enhancing public health.

The accreditation process for Healthy Cities involves meeting 80 international standards across nine key areas. These include community mobilisation for health and development, intersectoral collaboration, a community-based information centre, skills development, health improvement, urban environment management (such as water and sanitation), emergency preparedness, education, literacy, and microcredit activities.

Saudi Arabia's approach under Vision 2030 aims to empower individuals to actively participate in their own health care. The strategy also focuses on investing in digital health technologies to boost system efficiency and sustainability. By doing so, it seeks to improve overall public health outcomes and enhance the quality of life for its citizens.

The integrated efforts among various government entities have been crucial in building these sustainable healthy environments. This unified approach ensures that cities not only meet international standards but also support a lifestyle conducive to well-being.

This achievement underscores Saudi Arabia's leadership role in promoting healthy living environments within the region. By setting a benchmark with WHO-accredited Healthy Cities, the Kingdom demonstrates its commitment to fostering healthier communities through strategic planning and collaboration.

With inputs from SPA