Madinah Among World’s Healthiest Cities

The holy city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia has been acknowledged one among the world’s healthiest cities by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Madinah gained the accreditation after a WHO team that visited the city said that it met all the global standards necessary to be a healthy city.

The holy city with a population of more than 2 million is believed to the first city to be recognised under the organisation’s healthy cities programme.

Over 22 government, community, charity and volunteer agencies helped prepare for the WHO accreditation.

The city authorities entered into a partnership with the Taibah University to record government requirements online for the WHO review.

The WHO also recommended that the university provide training to other national city agencies interested in taking part in the healthy cities programme.

The World Health Organization defines a healthy city as: “A city that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential.”