‘Healthy city concept emphasises on need for urbanites to live a balanced life’
On another note, Abang Johari said the healthy city concept also emphasised on the need for urbanites to live a balanced life by eating well, exercising frequently and having good sleep.
The clear attractions to urban life, he added, are jobs and money which allow people to buy many services, which have caused many urban dwellers to work long hours, sacrificing their health.
He pointed out that healthy living in the city should be the ambition for both successful city dwellers and those who are discarded by economics.
Also speaking at the opening was State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, who welcomed the local and foreign delegates made up of city planners, councillors and health experts to the AFHC 2018, which will be held until Oct 20 at BCCK.
“I am also honoured that Kuching City has been recognised by receiving the WHO Regional Director’s award in 2004 for being an outstanding healthy city,” said Morshidi, who is also chairman of the main organising committee.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Awang Asfia Awang Nassar, World Health Organisation ( WHO) Western Pacific Region regional director Dr Shin Youngsoo, WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore head of mission Dr Lo Ying-Ru Jacqueline, Alliance for Healthy Cities steering committee chairperson Scarlett Pong, its secretariat head Dr Keiko Nakamura and Kuching South City Council ( MBKS) mayor Dato James Chan.