::: Tools to Use
Local Action for Health
The network of WHO Healthy Cities includes 67 cities in the European Region of the WHO. In addition national networks of healthy cities comprise around 1400 cities in the WHO European Region. The network of WHO Healthy Cities is coordinated by the WHO Programme on Healthy Cities and Urban Governance.The Healthy Cities Programme has developed tools on:
TOOL :: Urban health indicators
Healthy cities indicators
WHO ECOEHIS project
Development of environment and health indicators for European Union Countries
Documenting the urban health situation : tools for healthy cities
TOOL :: City health profiling
City health profiles – a review of progress
TOOL :: City health planning
The framework
The city health planning process and the plan itself should incorporate the following principles from Health for All:
1. Equity
2. Health promotion
3. Intersectoral action
4. Community participation
5. Supportive environments
6. Accountability
7. The right to peace.
TOOL :: City health development planning
A working tool: concept, process, structure and content
City planning for health and sustainable development describes in detail a seven step process which can be followed to develop a local health plan. The seven steps can be summarized as:
1. Vision
2. Managing the project
3. Collecting data
4. Setting priorities
5. Developing strategies
6. Drafting the Plan
7. Implementing and monitoring
TOOL :: Planning for health and sustainable development
City planning for health and sustainable development
TOOL :: Health Impact Assessment
The health impact assessment tool kit consists of five publications:
Health impact assessment - from vision to action (background paper)
Health impact assessment - a training module
Health impact assessment - how can it support decision-making?
Introducing health impact assessment in Trnava, Slovakia: a case study
Introducing health impact assessment in Bologna, Italy: a case study
TOOL :: Healthy Urban Planning
Healthy urban planning, by Hugh Barton & Catherine Tsourou. Spon Press, 2000
Healthy urban planning means planning for people. It promotes the idea that the city is much more than buildings, streets and open spaces, but a living, breathing organism, the health of which is closely linked to that of its citizens.
Healthy urban planning in practice – experience of European cities. Report of the WHO City Action Group on Healthy Urban Planning. Edited by Hugh Barton, Claire Mitcham and Catherine Tsouro. WHO, 2003.
http://www.euro.who.int/document/E82657.pdf
This document contains 6 case studies from the network of healthy cities that have implemented healthy urban planning in one form or the other.
TOOL :: Physical activity in the urban context
Promoting physical activity and active living in urban environments . The role of local governments. The Solid Facts. Peggy Edwards & Agis Tsouros, WHO, 2006.
The healthy cities project has also developed guidance on:
TOOL :: Healthy ageing
Palliative care . The solid facts
Edited by Elizabeth Davies & Irene J. Higginson, WHO, 2004
Better Palliative care for older people . WHO, 2004
What are the main risk factors for falls amongst older people and what are the most effective interventions to prevent these falls? Report from the Health Evidence Network, WHO/Europe
What are the main risk factors for disability in old age and how can disability be prevented? Report from the Health Evidence Network, WHO/Europe
What are the palliative care needs of older people and how might they be met? Report from the Health Evidence Network, WHO/Europe
What is the effectiveness of home visiting or home-based support for older people?
Report from the Health Evidence Network, WHO/Europe
TOOL :: Equity and Health
The concepts and principles on equity and health.
Margaret Whitehead. WHO, 1990
Policies and strategies to promote equity in Health.
Göran Dahlgreen and Margaret Whitehead. WHO, 1992.
TOOL :: Determinants of Health
The Solid Facts – Social determinants and health
TOOL :: Urban governance
Cities are planned and managed through urban governance: a process in which public and private institutions, formal and informal interest groups and individuals identify priorities and resolve conflicting interests. Good urban governance is characterized by a set of principles and norms that includes: sustainable development; participative, transparent and accountable decision-making; efficient and effective delivery of services; equity between different groups.
The Healthy Cities approach, which is underpinned by democratic and participative processes, is a model for good local governance. It emphasizes community participation in decision-making, policy implementation and evaluation processes, and gives priority to empowering, integrating and identifying the special needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in society, such as: people who are poor, female, older or migrants and people with disabilities.
Norms of the Global Good Urban Governance Program:
• Sustainability in all dimensions of urban development
• Subsidiarity of authority of resources at the closest appropriate level
• Equity of access to decision making processes and the basic necessities of urban life
• Efficiency in the delivery of public services and in promoting local economic development
• Transparency and accountability of decision maker and all stakeholders
• Civic engagement and citizenship
• Security if individuals and their living environment
Additional information is available at
http://www.unchs.org and http://www.euro.who.int/document/hcp/voice7_8.pdf
The above mentioned publications are published in the English language and some are translated into Russian or other languages as well. Some of the publications are sold commercially but most are available in PDF-versions and can be downloaded from the WHO healthy cities project Internet site
