Health promotion

Its responsibility for the health and quality of life of its citizens is the reason why Heidelberg joined the “Healthy Cities” network. The accession was based on a decision of the City Council in 1991 and committed the City of Heidelberg to prioritize the following points in local politics, in accordance with the programme of the World Health Organization (Ottawa Charter of 1986):

• equal opportunities for all residents
• protection from environmental and health dangers
• public participation
• cooperation between, on the one hand, city authorities and, on the other, citizen’s associations and groups
• supporting initiatives and self-help groups with the aim of promoting healthy living and environmental conditions.

These foci correspond to the targets of public health service according to which self-governing towns are responsible for health promotion and preventive measures for keeping healthy, environment-related health protection and health-reporting.