Muscat: The conference, organized by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), called for the adoption of community health initiative programs, the creation of a national network for healthy cities and villages, and the launch of an electronic platform to evaluate cities and monitor health initiatives.

The conference also emphasized the need to exchange experiences between countries in the region that have successfully implemented community health initiatives. A proposal for twinning healthy cities and villages and encouraging research through academic partnerships was discussed. The establishment of a WHO-affiliated collaborating center for community health initiatives was also put forward as a crucial step in advancing public health efforts in Oman.

Over two days, attendees engaged in workshops and dialogues on topics such as “Healthy Cities and Non-Communicable Diseases,” “Opportunities and Challenges in Building Healthy Cities,” and “The Role of Volunteer Work in Healthy Cities.” The conference highlighted both challenges and success stories from Oman’s Healthy Cities Program, exploring ways to expand its reach as a multi-sectoral platform to achieve sustainable development goals.

The event drew a wide range of participants from Oman and the Eastern Mediterranean region, offering them the chance to share insights and learn from successful initiatives in the region.