Cork: Towards a Healthier City
Denise Cahill
Health Promotion Dept, HSE South
Health in all policies
based on a recognition that population health is not merely
a product of health sector activities but largely
determined by policies and actions beyond the health
sector
Two basic premises Healthy Cities
1. A comprehensive view of health and
community issues, and
2. Commitment to the active promotion of a
healthy community, rather than the
“treatment” of problems
Transport:
A Health Perspective
Active transport
the use of physical activity such as cycling &
walking as a means of transport
Inclusive transport design
creates a way for everyone to get around
Health Benefits of Active Transport
• Environmental, Mental & Social
Reduced traffic congestion = more pleasant environment for living:
– Reduced emissions, better air quality and reduced respiratory
problems
– Reduced noise pollution
– Lower stress levels
– Safer access to local services for vulnerable groups such as older
people, wheelchair users, visually impaired; etc.
• Physical
– Reduced accidents
– Cardiovascular health
– Weight Management
– Improves mood
– Strength & Co-ordination
School Programmes
•
Walk On Wednesday (WOW) & Cycle On
Wednesday (COW) initiatives
•
After 8 weeks of COW - increase from 3% to
14% of children cycling to school
How does your child/children
currently travel to school?
Current Transport to School
90
81
80
74
74
Percentage of Students
70
Bus
60
Car
50
Walk
40
Car / Walk
Taxi
30
Walk / Cycle
20
13
12 10
7
10
2
2
2
3
8
1
0
10
1
0
0
St. Patrick's
Convent NS
Gaeilscoil
0
Preferred means of travelling to
and from school
Preferred Means of Transport
40
38
37
39
37
36
33
35
Percentage
30
25
21
St. Patrick's
20
17
18
Convent NS
Gaeilscoil
15
9
10
7
8
5
0
Walk
Cycle
Bus
Car
“What would help encourage your
child to continue to walk to school?”
If following barriers did not exist:
• Safety / Traffic (x 53)
• Weather (x 35)
Evidence
• WHO Report “Collaboration between the health and transport sectors in
promoting physical activity: examples from European countries 2006”
• 48 case
studies concluded:
• Urban planning policies & large scale transport
interventions have the largest impact
• Cases involving both health & transport sectors
facilitated the largest amount of changes to
environment required to promote cycling
Moving forward from a Health
Perspective
• Information on health benefits
• Education/Training
•
•
•
•
Health Professionals
Parents
Schools
Employers
• Strategic
• Healthy Cities planning
• Health Impact Assessment
Possible Supports for HIA in Cork
HIA
Toolkit for implementation of the WHO
Healthy Cities Model
HIA Network
A fledgling network of people in the Cork area
trained in HIA who have expressed an interest in
learning more and building momentum for HIA
locally