WHO and partners launch Partnership for Healthy Cities initiative in 15 Cairo schools
Ministers and partners are pictured at the launch event. Photo credit: Egyptian Food Bank
1 May 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The Partnership for Healthy Cities initiative has been formally launched in 15 public primary schools in Cairo by WHO, the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, Cairo Governorate and the Egyptian Food Bank.
The launch event on 22 April 2024 was attended by Minister of Health and Population His Excellency Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar; Minister of Education and Technical Education His Excellency Dr Reda Hegazy; Governor of Cairo Major General Khaled Abdel Aal; WHO Representative to Egypt Dr Nima Abid; and Chief Executive Officer of the Egyptian Food Bank Mr Mohsen Sarhan.
The Partnership for Healthy Cities, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with WHO and Vital Strategies, is a global network of 74 cities that work together to prevent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. Local leaders in partner cities are committed to choosing one of 14 programmes to reduce exposure to risk factors for NCDs, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and for injuries.
Cairo Governorate joined the initiative in 2021, and the Governor chose a programme that aims to apply international nutrition standards for foods served and sold in public schools in Cairo. Work has been ongoing since then, ahead of the official launch this April.
