The Introduction Meeting with WHO European Healthy Cities Network was held

After the presidential election of the association, with the participation of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, an introduction meeting was held with the secretariat of WHO European Healthy Cities Network which we are a member of. The advisor of European Network Kira Fortune and her team, the deputy secretary general of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Prof. Dr. Pınar Okyay, the secretary general of THCA Murat Ar and his team attended the meeting.

Kira Fortune has been working at WHO for 16 years in the fields of healthy cities and health promotion and has been an advisor for European Healthy Cities Network for the last two years. Fortune stated that this meeting was an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better. She got information about the changes after the assembly meeting of Turkish Healthy Cities Association, listened to recommendations and shared their agenda about closing of Phase VII and preparing for Phase VIII. She also emphasized the importance of the annual business meetings of European Healthy Cities Network.

The secretary general of THCA Murat AR stated that Dr. Cemil Tugay was elected as the president of Turkish Healthy Cities Association at the 41st ordinary assembly meeting held on June 4, and that after the local elections, online meetings will be organized for members in order to meet and introduce the association, due to the changes of member mayors, council members and coordinators. Murat Ar said that TCHA has reached 134 member municipalities across Türkiye; talked about the new office and staff structure, the process of preparing the 2025-2030 strategic plan, and stated that Mayor Cemil Tugay can take an active role in the management of WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

The Mayor was invited to WHO European Healthy Cities Network Political Committee Meeting to be held in Brno, Czech Republic on September 5-6, 2024 and expressed his pleasure to attend. Dr. Cemil Tugay emphasized that they will work on creating a strong advisory board and focusing on climate change and public health issues with the “One Health” approach.

Prof. Dr. Pınar Okyay emphasized that Izmir Metropolitan Municipality will continue to be an active member of European Healthy Cities Network in the new period like in previous years, and stated that they are very excited about the works in the new period.