NONTHABURI, December 1, 2023 - The Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Thailand, with support from WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, just recently concluded a pivotal two-day training on Urban Governance and Leadership at the Grand Richmond Hotel. Aimed at enhancing the urban governance skills of urban health stakeholders, this important event brought together approximately 80 municipality and city leaders and health officials from urban jurisdictions participating in the Southeast Asia Region Healthy City Network, Thailand Healthy City Network, and technical officers from the Department of Health, marking a significant stride in addressing urban health governance amid Thailand's rapid urbanization.
Dr. Jos Vandelaer, WHO Representative to Thailand, welcomed participants and underlined the urgent need to integrate public health into urban development given the context of today’s complex social, environmental and economic challenges that affect the health and well-being of urban populations. The urgency is made stronger by the increasing trend towards urban residence which is predicted to rise from 55% in 2022 to 73% by 2050. Dr Vandelaer highlighted that good urban governance is key to achieving healthy cities that encourage action from multiple sectors together with the active participation of the communities affected.
The training's core objective, as highlighted by Dr. Atthaphon Kaewsamrit, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, was to broaden the leadership perspectives of municipal authorities and health officials. This aligns with Thailand's innovative approach to tackling health and environmental challenges in urban settings.
Dr. Atthaphon Kaewsamrit (left) and Dr. Jos Vandelaer (Right) delivering opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of integrating health and health equity into urban development and the crucial role of municipal authorities and health officials in addressing contemporary urban challenges. © WHO 2023
Dr. Suvajee Good, Regional Advisor for Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health at the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, delivered the urban leadership (“urbanlead“) programme) programme training as part of the Regional Laboratory on Urban Governance for Regional Laboratory on Urban Governance for Health and Well-being. The training is designed for teams of leaders within a city to share experiences, identify governance issues and concerns, develop governance innovations, apply principles of quality improvement and tools for analysis of problems.
Dr. Suvajee Good delivering a focused lecture on social determinants of health and urban governance, sharing valuable insights with attentive health officials and urban leaders. © WHO 2023
At the training, participants engaged with practical tools such as brainstorming, prioritization, multi-voting, and writing a problem statement, all aimed at facilitating intersectoral actions to address health and wellbeing issues in urban areas. The training stressed the practical application of these tools in urban governance, with interactive sessions allowing participants to use methodologies in simulated scenarios, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world implementation.
This training marks a pivotal step in Thailand's journey towards healthier urban living. By equipping healthy city and municipality leaders and champions with essential skills and insights, it lays the groundwork for impactful changes in urban health governance. The knowledge and strategies acquired are anticipated to drive significant improvements in urban health and well-being, aligning with Thailand's vision of a healthier, more resilient urban future.
Here are some reflections from the participants and organizer of the training, offering insights into the experiences and anticipated impact of this vital initiative.
