Improving the city’s health is the focus of a new initiative, which is calling on the involvement of all local community groups and agencies to succeed.

Called Healthy Christchurch, the initiative is relying on all groups in the city, from key health providers to local community groups, runanga and Maori community groups to work together to build a strong agenda for health at a local level.

By health, the initiative doesn’t just mean more treatment for individual medical problems. Healthy Christchurch is about promoting the well-being of the whole community.

“To do this, and put local health on the decision-makers’ agendas,we need to work out what the priorities are for Christchurch.The more groups involved, the better the chance Healthy Christchurch has to address the health needs of everyone in the city,” says Healthy Christchurch co-ordinator Lucy D’Aeth.

Healthy Christchurch wants to see local community groups and agencies working together with national health providers so that policy, and the provision of local health services, can be better tailored to what the local community needs.

More than 150 groups have already shown their support of Healthy Christchurch. Funding to develop the initiative has been secured for two years.

The next step is to develop a Health Charter for the city.This will be the result of community groups and agencies working together to identify important issues and priorities.

The Charter will be developed from mid-February until May this year, with all groups and agencies invited to take part. The charter will be launched in June. Groups and agencies that have already responded will be contacted automatically.

If you are part of a community group which would like to be involved, please phone 941 8057 or email HealthyChristchurch@ccc.govt.nz

For more information: www.ccc.govt.nz/HealthyChristchurch. Healthy Christchurch sponsors include the Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch City Council,Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu, Crown Public Health, He Oranga Pounamu, Pegasus Health, University of Otago’s Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Ministry of Health. Individual sponsors of the initiative include Mayor Garry Moore, Canterbury District Health Board chair, Syd Bradley, Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon and Pegasus Chair,Paul McCormack. Healthy Christchurch is therefore guaranteed the top-level support, which has proved crucial to successful Healthy City/Community initiatives around the world.

Imagine a city where all children feel loved; where there are enough jobs for everyone who wants them and where the agencies, which provide our city with the education, health and social services that it needs to be healthy, work together with local community groups to achieve those needs.

It doesn’t matter whether your community group’s focus is sport, public transport, youth, recreation or any other aspect of city living. You all have a part to play in making a healthy city. This is what Healthy Christchurch is all about.

Why will this work in Christchurch? We are the second largest centre in New Zealand yet have the sense of community that a provincial town has.

“Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore”

The Healthy Christchurch initiative is a great example of groups within the city working together to achieve a common goal that will bring benefits to all residents. Working together with common objectives is more likely to have a significant impact rather than groups working in isolation. Let’s face it, we all want good health and through this programme we are more likely to achieve this goal.

“Mark Soloman, Kaiwhakahaere of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu”

Those of us working in family practice know the importance of a team effort. Good health is about partnership, between patients and those who care for them, and between health providers. Health is not something that should be addressed in isolation. There are so many other facets of our lives that affect our health, from housing right through to employment, recreation, the food we eat and so on. Pegasus Health is delighted to be part of this initiative, and we commend the city for foresight and vision.

“Pegasus Health Executive Chair Dr Paul McCormack”