14.11.2019, PHMR Newsletter note: Extended Public Health reporting (and debate) for fostering Sustainable Urban & Regional Health

EUPHA PHMR = Section “Public Health Monitoring and Reporting“ of the European Public Health Association, https://eupha.org/public-health-monitoring-and-reporting

7th EUPHA PHMR Newsletter, November 2019

p.7 News from European countries and regions – submitted by EUPHA PHMR subscribers. – Germany / Extended Public Health reporting (and debate) for fostering Sustainable Urban & Regional Healt, Rainer Fehr [19-15]: “For sustainably securing and promoting human health in the urban setting, a multitude of urban systems, fierce dynamics, and systemic interactions need to be considered – capturing the “forest” instead of merely the “trees”. How can such integrative, “Human Ecology” perspective be achieved, and a well-informed transdisciplinary debate be established? Incidentally, Hamburg features a series of integrative reports on health, environment and society, starting from 1797. A topical framework was put to a test in today’s city-state. Based on managed cooperation, we proceeded from a model exercise (published paper) to a book publication including history, health status, governance, health care, rehabilitation, prevention and health promotion, “health in all policies” and on-going integrative community projects. 100 authors delivered c.70 contributions. “Health” activities constitute a remarkable element of urban culture, but with room for improvement, e.g. quality assurance on a systems level, and more focus on sustainability. To take the issue forward, one venerable Hamburg NGO (founded in 1765) established a working group on Sustainable Urban Health which engages in current projects of urban development and aims to include the Hamburg Metropolitan area. This “no regrets” approach can cooperatively be applied anywhere, supporting professionals and society. – Exchanging related experiences: very welcome.”

p.12 Relevant PHMR publications and resources. Incl.: Fehr et al. (2018) City of the future: Healthy and sustainable. Building bridges between disciplines and sectors (German); Fehr et al. (2018) Sustainable Urban Health for Hamburg – Status quo and perspectives (German).