Quito, February 15, 2023.
Healthy municipalities: a proposal to improve the quality of life in all spaces
To reduce the negative effects on health, improve the quality of life and protect the population, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) leads the “Healthy Municipalities” Program, as a proposal that encourages the Decentralized Autonomous Governments (GADs) to treat analysis of the social and environmental determinants that influence the well-being and quality of life of citizens.
Within this framework, on February 15, 2023, the Municipality of Quito received certification as a Health Promoter. This achievement focused on the work carried out by the municipality on issues of potable/safe water, sewerage and wastewater; solid waste; air and habitat; planning with a focus on health and risk management.
At the national level, there are 196 adhered municipalities, which represents 89% of the country’s total (221 municipalities). Of this number, 19 GADs are certified as “Health Promoter Municipalities”, 23 as “Health Guarantor Municipalities”, and 3 as “Healthy Municipalities”.
Certified municipalities must execute projects, policies and actions that have a positive impact on the health of their inhabitants, with Territorial Development and Planning plans (PDyOT) that have epidemiological profiles of their localities as input for the design and execution of framed operations. in their competencies.
The certification was delivered by Minister José Rúales, who indicated that the Healthy Municipalities Program seeks to consolidate itself as a public policy at the national level. “Part of this path is in the development of the Ten-Year Health Plan promoted by the MSP with the aim of defining the course of health services towards the future and according to the needs of the population.”
With the certification, municipalities receive advice and support on health issues; In addition, technical resources will be channeled for the execution of their projects and the application of citizen participation mechanisms will be promoted within the framework of the program.