Kuwait launches Gulf training to turn malls into hubs of public health

The Healthy Cities Office at Kuwait’s Ministry of Health launched a specialized training course for assessors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, aimed at building regional capacity in evaluating health-promoting commercial complexes. The course included both theoretical instruction and field visits to shopping centers in Kuwait that have successfully met the health promotion criteria.

In her opening address, Dr. Amal Al-Yahya, Director of the Healthy Cities Office, explained that the two-day course aims to standardize evaluation mechanisms and tools across the region, while equipping participants with essential skills and assessment techniques. She emphasized the importance of creating unified standards to assess health-promoting environments within commercial spaces, according to KUNA.

Dr. Al-Yahya introduced the “Muazaz” initiative, Kuwait’s model for health-enhancing shopping malls and commercial complexes. The initiative aligns with the broader Healthy Cities strategy by addressing social determinants of health and transforming public spaces into supportive environments for community well-being.

“This initiative encourages shopping centers to actively invest in health promotion and has been endorsed by GCC health ministries,” Dr. Al-Yahya said. “It’s a step toward reshaping the role of malls into dynamic hubs that serve the health needs of all individuals, including people with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly, and children.”

Participants in the course were trained using Kuwait’s implementation model, combining desk-based learning with practical, on-site evaluation, based on the Unified Gulf Guide for Healthy Cities, approved by the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Laila Al-Fuzaie, Director of the Healthy Mall Project, underscored the initiative’s role in integrating health into everyday life through smart public-private partnerships. She noted that health promotion can extend beyond hospitals and clinics to public spaces like malls, which are visited daily by thousands.

“As part of Kuwait’s development vision, we are redefining how we support public health — by embedding health into the very fabric of community spaces,” Al-Fuzaie said. She encouraged expanding the initiative across all shopping complexes and incorporating technology-driven health awareness tools.

She also reviewed the goals and challenges of the Healthy Complexes Initiative, noting its success in boosting health literacy among mall visitors and contributing to Kuwait’s broader public health objectives.

The course represents Kuwait’s leadership in regional health innovation, offering a blueprint for other GCC states to follow in transforming public spaces into health-friendly environments.