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 & SocialReduced 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

2 38

74 74

81

13 12 107

10

12 1 02

0 00

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

St. Patrick's Convent NS Gaeilscoil

Per

cent

age

of S

tude

nts

Bus

Car

Walk

Car / Walk

Taxi

Walk / Cycle

Preferred means of travelling to and from school

38 3736

21

97 8

17 18

33

3739

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Per

cen

tag

e

Walk Cycle Bus Car

Preferred Means of Transport

St. Patrick's

Convent NS

Gaeilscoil

“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