Healthy Borough Conference,
3 February 2010
On 3 February, the Healthy Borough Programme held
a conference called "Becoming a Healthy Borough - Sustainable
approaches for Active Lives, Active Travel and Healthy Food in
Tower Hamlets".
Almost 200 stakeholders from the public, private and voluntary
and community sector attended the conference, called "Becoming a
Healthy Borough - Sustainable approaches for Active Lives, Active
Travel and Healthy Food in Tower Hamlets", which was organised by
the Healthy Borough Programme.
Speakers and presentations
Professor Philip James CBE, FRSE, MD, DSc, president of the
International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) and
Honorary Professor of Nutrition at the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine delivered the keynote address at the event at
Christ Church, Spitalfieds.
Tower Hamlets is becoming a healthy
borough
The event was chaired by Kevan
Collins, Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Council, and Dr Ian
Basnett, Joint Director of Public Health and Stephen O’Brien, Chair
of NHS Tower Hamlets also spoke to the gathered audience.
Professor James has had extensive international experience in
dealing with the major public health problems affecting the world.
He spoke about the environmental factors that contribute to
overweight and obesity, including increasingly sedentary lifestyles
and the lack of support for walking and cycling, and commended the
Healthy Borough Programme for its work in trying to improve both
the physical environment and access to healthier foods for
residents.
Esther Trenchard-Mabere, Associate Director of Public Health at NHS
Tower Hamlets and Keith Williams, Head of the Healthy Borough
Programme, gave an overview of the Programme and its achievements
to date, outlining the importance of engaging the community in
improving the health of the borough.
Participants then took part in interactive workshops on topics
ranging from healthy workplaces and active play to cycling and
spatial planning. There was even a led walk around the Spitalfields
area, in spite of the adverse weather.
For more information about the Healthy
Borough conference or the Healthy Borough Programme, contact Sylvia
Arthur on 020 7364 0885.