VP Ma’ruf Amin Opens 2022 Healthy Cities Summit
Vice President Ma’ruf Amin
Development of a healthy city requires multi-sectoral cooperation, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has said.
“The grand vision of developing healthy regencies/cities also requires multi-sectoral support, namely from the business world, academics, non-governmental organizations, and the media, or what is known as pentahelix partnership, including synergies within the regencies/cities as well as those of inter-regencies/cities,” the Vice President said virtually at the 2022 Healthy Cities Summit, Monday (03/28).
The Vice President underscored that the concept of a healthy city is not solely defined by status but also by awareness and relentless efforts to improve various urban health arrangements, ranging from residential areas, public facilities and infrastructure, to healthy and independent community life, food security and nutrition, and healthy social life.
“It means that perpetual commitment and process are needed to create and continuously improve the physical and social environment of a city that allows residents to support each other in all aspects of life and develop their best potential,” he said.
Healthy cities are also one of the determinants of the convergence and synergy of several priority programs that are being promoted by the Government, such as acceleration of stunting reduction, reduction in maternal and child mortality, and reduction in the prevalence of tuberculosis. Therefore, the commitment and role of the regency/city government are becoming increasingly strategic in realizing a healthy city.
“The vision to create healthy regencies/cities is a great vision that must be owned and realized by all regional leaders. In turn, healthy regencies/cities will encourage the creation of a healthy state and nation,” he said.
The Vice President expressed hope that through the joint movement, all targets related to urban health development can be achieved at the regency/city level independently and sustainably.
“In this meeting, we hope that you can share your best experiences and knowledge on healthy city development. I look forward to formulas and recommendations that can be implemented by all elements, especially in entering the controlled endemic or pandemic stage that is oriented towards developing better and more sustainable public health in the regency/city area,” he said.
For the record, the concept of a healthy city has been introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 1980s as a comprehensive approach to creating a healthy and prosperous region and society. It does not only rely on infrastructure development but also on economic, cultural, social, and humanitarian aspects. In Indonesia, efforts to create a healthy city are carried out through the Healthy Regency/City Program with the parameters of a clean, comfortable, safe, and healthy regency/city for its citizens.
The Summit will be held in a hybrid manner on March 27-30, 2022, centered in Semarang city, Central Java province. Under the theme “Healthy Cities for All”, the Summit will be attended by more than 900 participants from central and regional levels. (BPMI of Vice Presidential Secretariat/UN) (FI/MMB)
