West Abdullah Al-Mubarak poised for healthy city recognition

Sheikh Athbi Al-Nasser, the Governor of Farwaniya, announced on Tuesday that the governorate is working to finalize the accreditation of West Abdullah Al-Mubarak City as a healthy city, adding it to Kuwait’s network of healthy cities, according to Arabic daily Al Rai.

In a press statement during the city’s registration event with the World Health Organization’s regional network of healthy cities, Al-Nasser confirmed, “We have completed the registration, making West Abdullah Al-Mubarak the third healthy city in Farwaniya Governorate.”

Sheikh Athbi Al-Nasser expressed his hope for the establishment of more healthy cities within FarwaniyaGovernorate, aiming for significant progress in implementing healthy city initiatives across Kuwait and enhancing the quality of life for the region’s residents. He emphasized the importance of expanding this initiative to benefit the broader community.

He also extended his gratitude to Dr. Amal Al Yahya, Head of the Healthy Cities Office at the Ministry of Health, and the office’s members. He particularly thanked Faisal Al Bidan, Head of the Coordination Committee for West Abdullah Al Mubarak City, as well as the committee members and the entire team for their dedicated efforts in facilitating the implementation of healthy city standards.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during the event, Dr. Al Yahya explained the stages involved in the healthy cities initiative. She noted that any city wishing to be registered as a healthy city must first establish a coordinating committee approved by the regional governor, with a designated office under the name “Healthy City Office.”

Once these requirements are met, a registration form, detailing the area’s demographic and service structure, must be submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Healthy Cities Network. After reviewing and approving the data, the Ministry of Health submits the form to WHO. At this stage, the city is registered as one seeking accreditation, not yet officially accredited.

Dr. Al Yahya highlighted that achieving accreditation requires meeting WHO’s rigorous standards. The Healthy Cities Office then plays a vital role in training, empowering, and facilitating the process. Following this, a self-evaluation is conducted, and a city profile is submitted to WHO for final evaluation, including field visits by a WHO delegation. A city that meets 80% or more of the criteria will receive certification as a WHO-accredited healthy city for three years.