Latest news

11 February 2022

Cities for Better Health Kyiv launches a health-promoting publicity campaign

Cities for Better Health partners in Kyiv have undertaken three big initiatives simultaneously in recent months. They started with a communication campaign across the Kyiv public transport network during December and January. The capital city is home to 90,000 people diagnosed with diabetes, including 14,000 insulin-dependent people. Advertisements carry messages about diabetes prevention and have been strategically located on buses, trolleys, and the metro.

11 February 2022

Kindergarten teachers trained as part of Cities for Better Health Istanbul

Within the scope of Cities Changing Obesity in Istanbul, 16 kindergarten teachers will receive a "Persona Dolls Approach Practitioner Training Certificate" after completing a 3-month training and supervision process guided by expert trainers. The Persona Dolls Approach is a tool in the fight against prejudice and discrimination, helping children express their feelings, understand the feelings of others, respect people with diverse identities, ethnicity, gender, colour or disabilities.

28 January 2022

Mérida research findings shared at media event

On 29 November, the results of the "Changing Diabetes in Mérida: Factors and experiences associated with Diabetes Mellitus" research were presented at a press event.

28 January 2022

Community empowerment is at the heart of the new Leicester programme

Leicester Changing Diabetes has launched a new programme to support the prevention of type 2 diabetes through a network of community champions who can reach out to all communities in the city.

28 January 2022

Cities for Better Health work with vulnerable elderly praised at a roundtable for the Ageing Society in China

On 14 January, Cities for Better Health partners in China were invited to participate in a roundtable on health communication for the Ageing Society in Beijing.

28 January 2022

New educational course, Healthy Cities, has launched in Moscow

KB Strelka, a Cities for Better Health programme partner in Moscow, has developed Healthy Cities, an online educational course designed for a broad audience. It focuses on the city's impact on the physical and emotional health of children, adults and the elderly. The course looks at how improvements in architecture and planning could raise well-being amongst these target groups.

14 January 2022

CCD Rounds 7: Improving urban health with Health City Manager competences

The engagement with the Cities for Better Health Rounds sessions was great in 2021, and I am pleased to share the topic and date for the first CBH Rounds of 2022. With the next webinar booked for 22 February, you don't have long to wait. Tune in to learn about the Health City Manager post-graduate course from Rome. Hear from the experts behind the creation of the course, tailored to provide the knowledge, competencies and abilities for a successful Health City Manager.

14 January 2022

Webinar packed with acclaimed speakers inspires collaboration in Korea

In December, Cities for Better Health partners in Korea hosted their second webinar to bring together people with influence in health and policy with a forum focused on diabetes and health inequality in its cities.

14 January 2022

Cities for Better Health partners from Krakow and Warsaw ready for action

Poland's two-city Cities for Better Health programme is progressing to its active phase. Last year, the programme initiated a survey of 4,000 stakeholders (many teachers) from Warsaw and Krakow. On 15 December, the data gathered on diabetes, diet, physical activity and obesity-related issues were presented to the National Scientific Council for Cities for Better Health in Poland to shape recommendations and the council has now identified the relevant interventions.

14 January 2022

Launch of new website for Cities Changing Obesity Istanbul

The Turkish capital Istanbul joined the Cities for Better Health programme in 2020 with a strong focus on childhood obesity, which is rising at alarming rates across Turkey. Last month, the local partners; Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Danish Consulate, Turkish Association for the Study of Obesity, Diabetic Children's Foundation, and KOC University, launched a new website dedicated to Cities Changing Obesity Istanbul with an ambition of enabling children of the city to grow up well and lead a healthy life.

14 January 2022

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15 December 2021

CBH Rounds 6: A new social investment model to fund city health

The sixth CBH Rounds webinar deep-dived into the creation of the ground-breaking social impact bond tailored to improve the lives of city-dwellers living with type 2 diabetes. The City of Aarhus in Denmark has secured investment, from outside traditional healthcare sources, to fund an immediate expansion of services with a concrete ambition to reduce high spending related to complications associated with diabetes. The new investment model will allow the city to accelerate superior interventions to reduce type 2 diabetes complications among citizens.

10 December 2021

First UNESCO chair on Urban Health goes to Cities for Better Health partner in Italy

We have received great news from our partners in for Better Health Italy. President of the Health City Institute, Chair of Cities for Better Health, and President of the National Committee of the Biosafety, Biotechnology and Life Science of the Prime Minister’s Council Professor Andrea Lenzi has been announced as the first-ever UNESCO Chair On Urban Health.

10 December 2021

Cities for Better Health Strasbourg recognised with top award

On 2 December, Cities for Better Health partners from Strasbourg won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the French pharmaceutical body, Les Entreprises du Médicament (LEEM). It was in recognition of the implementation and development of the Cities for Better Health programme in Strasbourg and beat 50 other category entrants to the top prize. The award was given to the whole coalition behind Cities for Better Health in Strasbourg, including Novo Nordisk France, the Danish Embassy in France and the Municipality of Strasbourg.

10 December 2021

City of Mississauga gets underway with new digital presence

It has been just a month since our new partners from the City of Mississauga in Canada joined the network, and developments are already swinging into action. The municipality website now features a sub-site for Cities for Better Health in Mississauga, showcasing its purpose, mission and milestones.

10 December 2021

Reading tip: Community Action – a winning formula to defeat type 2 diabetes

The importance of working with grassroots organisations and communities to address the challenge of type 2 diabetes in cities is the central thrust in this recently published article which shines a light on the Leicester Cities for Better Health partnership.

26 November 2021

Kyiv in Ukraine joins as network city 41

On 19 November, Cities for Better Health proudly welcomed the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to the global network. I wish our new partners well in their launch ambition to better prevent diabetes, provide more timely diagnosis and good quality treatment for the city residents

26 November 2021

Mainz in Germany has completed a diabetes prevalence study

In 2020 Berlin Marzahn-Hellersdorf became the first German city to join the Cities for Better Health partner network. More discussions have since taken place with cities across the country about the potential to join. Progress has been encouraging with the city of Mainz, home to around 280,000 people, and I am pleased to report an initial study has now been completed.

26 November 2021

Faith & Diabetes masterclasses reach a global network

Faith & Diabetes is an excellent example of how to engage participants through a supersetting approach. The team behind the initiative offered a masterclass on 15 and 17 November, sharing experiences and unpacking their Faith & Diabetes Blueprint to a global audience.

26 November 2021

Celebrating the winners of the Healthy Food Challenge

Earlier this year, EAT and Novo Nordisk launched The Healthy Food Challenge to find exciting and innovative solutions to advance healthy and sustainable food environments for vulnerable people. The winners were announced earlier this month, and the teams behind the winning Healthy Food Challenge entries joined a special webinar on 24 November.

26 November 2021

Italy partners leverage national political gathering to encourage action

This month marked World Diabetes Day (WDD), and we witnessed many impressive events and activities from cities around the world. Italy leveraged the Cities for Better Health network to partner with and engage institutions, authorities, scientific societies and patient organisations on WDD and draw attention to the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin.

26 November 2021

Cities for Better Health Briefing Book 2021: Action on urban diabetes. How cities are building a healthier future

The Cities for Better Health briefing book from 2020 has been updated to reflect the addition of the 15 cities that have joined since its publication nearly two years ago. The briefing book 2021 now includes new highlights and mentions more cities taking local action to bend the curve on diabetes through the Cities for Better Health Programme.

12 November 2021

Mississauga in Canada joins as 40th city in the network

On 10 November, Mississauga, Canada, became the newest member of our global network! The partnership was made official during a council meeting in which Mississauga made Cities for Better Health history by having Mayor Bonnie Crombie sign the Urban Diabetes Declaration along with every member of the City Council.

12 November 2021

CBH Rounds #6: A new investment model to fund city health in Aarhus

I am pleased to confirm the next and final episode of the CBH Rounds for this year on 15 December at 15.00 - 16.00 (CET). This time, we will deep-dive into the creation of the ground-breaking social impact bond tailored to improve the lives of city-dwellers living with type 2 diabetes.

12 November 2021

Ten year anniversary of ALAS programme in Madrid to be celebrated at Mayoral roundtable event.

On 16 November, Madrid Salud, the institutional partner in Madrid for Cities for Better Health, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Food, Physical Activity and Health (ALAS) programme with a gala event and roundtable discussion.

12 November 2021

Italy network continues to expand nationally

Italy continues its network expansion and action, securing new commitments across the country and engaging the public and policymakers alike. The Mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando recently became the most recent signatory of the Urban Diabetes Declaration. Palermo is the capital of Sicily, and the second biggest city in southern Italy, home to 1.2 million people.

12 November 2021

World Resources Institute invites for submissions to 'Thriving Together in Turbulent Times'

World Resources Institute has opened its submission process for the 2021-2022 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities. The competition is an opportunity to win a top prize of 250,000 US dollars and four runner-up prize pots of 25,000 USD each.

The Prize for Cities draws global attention to creative problem solving, which transforms lives and celebrates the best work in creating inclusive, resilient and low carbon cities.

12 November 2021

Unpacking the Urban Diabetes Action Framework

This week we complete the unpacking process for the Urban Diabetes Action Framework with a spotlight on Step 6 – The final stage, which is all about how you evaluate, and hopefully, sustain your intervention. The Urban Diabetes Action Framework (UDAF) is a companion to kick-start your public health project.

15 October 2021

Unpacking the Urban Diabetes Action Framework

As promised here previously, we will continue to unpack the Urban Diabetes Action Framework. Last time we looked at Step 3, which was about securing commitment and attracting stakeholders. This week we profile Step 4 – Prepare a Plan.

15 October 2021

Meet the winners of the Healthy Food Challenge

On 14 October, Novo Nordisk and EAT announced the winners of ‘The Healthy Food Challenge,’ a platform that called for innovative solutions to advance healthy and sustainable food environments for vulnerable people.

15 October 2021

Reading recommendation: How can we create a positive legacy for health and wellbeing after Covid-19?

Whilst it is too early to close the lid on the Covid-19 pandemic, it is certainly not too soon to consider some of the lessons which could be learned, the changes we could make to build back better. I would like to draw your attention to an article published by The Possible website, which explores how the pandemic provided a stark illustration of how the built environment affects our health and shows the potential for change.

15 October 2021

Denmark’s first health social impact bond is ready for launch

The Danish city of Aarhus joined Cities for Better Health in 2020 with an ambitious type 2 diabetes prevention plan, targeting a reduction in complications in a vulnerable area. A new social investment model was proposed to use funding from outside the municipal health budget, and now it is ready to launch.

15 October 2021

City of Ravenna joins Italian ranks of Advocate Cities

Momentum to grow the network and extend the list of signatories of the Urban Diabetes Declaration continues apace from Italy! Mayor Michele De Pascale from the northern city of Ravenna recently put pen to paper, making Ravenna the latest Advocate City in the Cities for Better Health network.

15 October 2021

CBH Rounds #5: Shaping healthier food environments for children in urban settings

There are only two weeks left until the next CBH Rounds webinar. The live event will focus on childhood overweight and obesity in cities. We are fortunate to welcome guest presenter Jo Jewell from UNICEF’s headquarters in New York and Professor Corinna Hawkes from the University of London for the fifth CBH Rounds webinar.

15 October 2021

C40 Walking and Cycling Webinar: Health, Physical Activity and Environment

C40 is a network of the world’s megacities that have committed to addressing climate change. On 29 September, the C40 Walking and Cycling Network held a panel discussion focusing on “The Intersection of Public Health, Physical Activity and the Environment.”

15 October 2021

OECD highlights Cities for Better Health tools in new working paper

The OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme Papers present innovative ideas and practical examples on how to boost local development and job creation.

1 October 2021

Belgrade partners deliver an action-packed year

Serbia’s capital city Belgrade is fast approaching its first anniversary as a Cities for Better Health partner city. This is a milestone and an opportunity to celebrate the initiatives and progress made despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic - proof that determination and commitment pay off in the end!

1 October 2021

Italy continues to boost its national network of cities

Good news from Italy! The network of cities supporting the mission of Cities for Better Health continues to expand. I am pleased to share that the network has been enriched by the city of Cagliari committing to the Urban Diabetes Declaration, signed by Mayor Paolo Truzzu.

1 October 2021

The supersetting approach in Tingbjerg Changing Diabetes published in BMJ Open

The Tingbjerg Changing Diabetes supersetting approach has been published in the BMJ Open, a high-impact peer-reviewed journal that champions better research. Tingbjerg Changing Diabetes is a Cities for Better Health best practice case, and it is great that we now have a peer-reviewed reference for this case.

1 October 2021

Invite to shape the agenda for ’Copenhagen Diabetes Consensus’

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen invites you to participate in the CODIAC survey about what is important for user involvement in diabetes prevention, care and research, and I encourage you to do so. Sharing and contributing across our network is the lifeblood of Cities for Better Health, and the inputs you give will help shape the CODIAC conference taking place in November.

1 October 2021

Healthy food landscapes: how urban planning can incentivise healthy eating and help the environment

Leading up to the United Nations Food System Summit, a virtual roundtable focused on Healthy Food Landscapes was held. The roundtable showcased the vital importance of using citizen-centric data in urban planning to increase access to healthy and sustainable food, lowering carbon emissions and improving health.

1 October 2021

Unpacking the Urban Diabetes Action Framework

In the coming newsletters, we will continue to unpack the Urban Diabetes Action Framework step by step. Last time we looked at Step 2, which was about securing commitment and attracting stakeholders. This week we profile step 3 – Designing the intervention.

17 September 2021

CBH Rounds #5: Shaping healthier food environments for children in urban settings

I am pleased to confirm the next episode of the CBH Rounds on 26 October. This time the live event will focus on childhood overweight and obesity in cities. We are fortunate to welcome guest presenter Jo Jewell from UNICEF’s headquarters in New York and Professor Corinna Hawkes from the University of London for our fifth CBH Rounds webinar.

17 September 2021

Serving up a Bite of HOPE through COVID-19

A Bite of HOPE is a culinary programme to create healthier communities run by Cities for Better Health partner Hope Clinic in Houston. When COVID-19 hit, Bite of HOPE’s dedication to the underserved in Houston became more important than ever.

17 September 2021

Getting Berlin active again with 30MAL30

A mix of advice, restrictions, or fear has meant many people in cities have exercised less during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cities for Better Health partners in Berlin’s Marzahn-Hellersdorf district are inspiring people to get moving again.

17 September 2021

Virtual roundtable on Healthy Food Landscapes as part of the UN Food System Summit

As part of the UN Food System Summit you are invited to join a virtual roundtable focusing on Healthy Foodscapes. Experts in the fields of urban planning, food, carbon and health will share their knowledge and reflections on how food security, environment and health can all be improved at the same time by changing to an accessible healthy and sustainable diet.

17 September 2021

St. Petersburg hospital gets a green makeover

To make patient visits to St. Petersburg’s City Consulting Diagnostic Centre (CCDC) less stressful and encourage people to be more active, our partners have begun greening the hospital's grounds.

17 September 2021

Unpacking the Urban Diabetes Action Framework

Over the next few newsletters, we will continue to unpack the Urban Diabetes Action Framework step by step. Last time we looked at Step 1 – Defining the problem. This week I will zoom in on Step 2 – Secure commitment.

03 September 2021

CBH Rounds #4: City health through the lens of foodscapes in Bogotá

On 30 August, we hosted the fourth CBH Rounds live webinar showcasing the Healthy Foodscape research undertaken in Bogotá, Colombia. It was a very inspiring session learning about how the health department in Bogota has collaborated with Gehl, an urban design practice, and the local Cities for Better Health team to identify the relationship between food behaviours and the urban environment.

03 September 2021

Panel discussion: Children Eating Well in Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Action in Latin America and the Caribbean

In July, Cities for Better Health, UNICEF and EAT co-hosted a panel discussion “Children Eating Well in Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Action in Latin America and the Caribbean” at the 17th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH).

03 September 2021

Philadelphia’s Faith & Diabetes will kick off this month

In 2021, Cities for Better Health Philadelphia brought together 12 different faith-based organisations from across the city to meet regularly to discuss addressing chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity through education and awareness programs offered to their members.

03 September 2021

Unpacking the Urban Diabetes Action Framework

Beginning a public health initiative is never easy. It is hard to bring together motivated people with the right capabilities, attract the right resources and make a positive change. Now, help is at hand.

20 November 2020

#WorldChildrensDay

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity continues to rise on most continents, and there is increasing recognition that the COVID-19 pandemic and response strategies (for example, school closures, country lockdowns and trade restrictions) are exacerbating challenges regarding child nutrition and wellbeing.

20 November 2020

EAT@Home

The first episode of the EAT@Home series, which comprises four episodes and will run until mid-December, aired this week. The episode is just over an hour long and focuses on the importance of healthy and sustainable diets.

20 November 2020

Screening for diabetes at food banks in Lisbon

During the past month, partners of Cities for Better Health in Lisbon undertook a large screening campaign in the city. The campaign, which was carried out at food distribution centres linked to the Covid 19 Emergency Food Support Program of the Municipality of Lisbon, will continue until the end of 2020.

13 November 2020

Strasbourg becomes the first French city to join Cities for Better Health

On November 13th, just before World Diabetes Day, the European capital city of Strasbourg becomes the first French city to join the Cities for Better Health programme. Strasbourg was chosen because of the high prevalence of diabetes in its region. But beyond the figures, Strasbourg and its region have also a very rich ecosystem of companies and associations promoting innovative initiatives for prevention and health promotion.

13 November 2020

Celebrating World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day, which acknowledges the challenges faced by millions of people living with diabetes around the world, is an important day for all engaged in our network.

To mark the occasion, we are pleased to welcome six new cities to the network. Today, Strasbourg will become the first French city to join the Cities for Better Health network, and tomorrow, on World Diabetes Day, we will welcome Bogotá in Colombia, and Bologna, Turin, Bari and Genoa in Italy. To learn more about the launches, have a look at our other articles on our website.

13 November 2020

From Cities for Better Health network city to partner city on World Diabetes Day

In relation to World Diabetes Day, the Italian cities of Bologna, Turin, Bari and Genoa will officially become part of the Cities for Better Health global network. The official announcement in Italy will be made at the XXXVII National Assembly, which is the most important annual meeting of Italian Municipalities.

13 November 2020

Bogotá joins on World Diabetes Day

In the spirit of the day, an event will be broadcasted focusing on how the city plans to be part of the solution to tackle the challenges of diabetes. The event will feature a talk show type of event hosted by a locally renowned journalist Silvia Corzo, who will present this important milestone on the ground from different locations in Bogotá relevant to Cities for Better Health.

06 November 2020

Belgrade joins Cities for Better Health as city number 30

On November 2nd, Belgrade became the 30th city to join the Cities for Better Health network at a launch event attended by the Mayor of Belgrade, the Danish Embassy and Novo Nordisk Serbia.

06 November 2020

The first German city joins Cities for Better Health

On October 30th, the district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf in Berlin became the first German city to join the Cities for Better Health network.