Healthy Communities – what it is,

why do it.

Dr Trevor HancockPublic Health Consultant

Ministry of HealthSeptember 2005

Vancouver ~ Vancouver ~ June 19-23, 2006

World Urban Forum 3Forum urbain mondial 3

United Nations

United Nations Event

Focus is to examine the impact of rapid urbanisation on communities and the challenges this presents for the future

What it is

Healthy communities takes the concepts of population health promotion and puts them into practice in the homes, schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods where we live, work and play.

Health promotion

“The process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health”

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

WHO, 1986

The Determinants of Population Health

biology and genetic endowment, the physical environment, living and working conditions, personal health practices and coping skills

health services Advisory Committee on Population Health, 1997

Where we live

We are 80% urbanised We spend 90% of our time indoors We live 100% of the time on the planet, within natural ecosystems

So the built environment is the ‘natural habitat’ of Canadians . . .

but we are still subject to global and bioregional changes in ecosystem health

Settings

Homes, schools, workplaces, health care facilities, neighbourhoods, and cities are both

Physical places and Social spaces

A healthy city . . . " . . . is one that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources that enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and in developing to their maximum potential."

Hancock and Duhl, 1986

Healthy Community model

Healthy Communities approach

Community involvement The bedrock

Political commitment Local government is a key player

Intersectoral partnerships It takes a whole community . . .

Healthy public policy Creates the conditions for health

Why should local governments do it?

Because… they are where most Canadians live

they are the closest level of government to people

they are concerned with the quality of life of their citizens

they influence many of the determinants of health

It is within their legislated purpose

Community CharterMunicipal purposes7. The purposes of a municipality include . . . . (d) fostering the economic, social and environmental well-being of its community.

Local Government ActPurposes of regional districts 2. . ..the purposes of a regional district include . .

(d) fostering the current and future economic, social and environmental well-being of its community.

Local government & the health of the nation

"Many would be surprised to learn that the greatest contribution to the health of the nation over the past 150 years was made not by doctors or hospitals but by local government. Our lack of appreciation of the role of our cities in establishing the health of the nation is largely due to the fact that so little has been written about it..." Jessie Parfitt, 1987

Health as a factor in the growth of local government

In a study of the development of municipal departments in Toronto since 1834,

16 of 36 city services (44%) were found to have health concerns as contributors to their establishment and growth;

in 10 of the 16, health had a major impact on growth

Severs, 1989

Local government departments and health

Public works Fire and police

Housing Roads/ transportation

Parks and recreation

Urban planning

Infectious disease Injuries, safety Shelter, safety, indoor air

Safety, air quality, physical activity

Physical activity, air quality, nature, social

Zoned land use, safety, social interaction

What’s in it for local governments?

A healthier, happier and more productive population

Increased social cohesion and social capital

Improved environmental quality and sustainability

An attractive location for investment

Contact

Dr. Trevor HancockPublic Health Consultant

Ministry of Health 1515 Blanshard St, 4th Floor

Victoria BC V8W 3C8Tel: 250 952-1794Fax: 250 952-1570

Email: Trevor.Hancock@gov.bc.ca