The first Oman Conference for healthy cities concluded with key recommendations focusing on adopting community health initiatives, establishing national networks for healthy cities, and creating an electronic platform for monitoring initiatives. The conference, organized by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, featured scientific sessions on topics such as non-communicable diseases, community partnerships for health services, mental health, and accreditation standards for healthy cities. Discussions also covered strategies for improving social determinants of health, child-friendly communities, and sustainable healthy villages.
Participants at the conference recommended exchanging experiences with other countries in the region that implement community health initiatives and promoting the twinning of cities and villages that follow this approach. They also called for the establishment of community information observatories to support healthy city initiatives. Various breakout sessions highlighted successful models from different cities, such as Nizwa’s efforts to combat smoking, Kuwait’s experience with health-promoting malls, and the role of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth in promoting physical activity.
The conference provided a platform for discussing the current status of the Healthy Cities program in Oman, including its strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities. Success stories and lessons learned were shared to help guide future initiatives. The aim was to enhance the understanding of healthy cities and villages in Oman and explore ways to improve their effectiveness. The event also emphasized the importance of addressing non-communicable diseases and promoting overall health and well-being through community-based initiatives.
In conclusion, the first Oman Conference for healthy cities highlighted the importance of adopting community health initiatives as a primary preventive tool against non-communicable diseases. The recommendations made by participants focused on establishing national networks for healthy cities, exchanging experiences with other countries in the region, and promoting the twinning of cities and villages that implement community health initiatives. The conference provided valuable insights into strategies for improving social determinants of health, creating sustainable healthy villages, and fostering partnerships for high-quality health services. Overall, the event served as a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices to drive the healthy city movement forward in Oman.
