Chungcheongnam-do

▲ Certified as an official member of the WHO AFHC (Alliance for healthy Cities)

The City of Nonsan (Mayor Hwang Myung-sun) was certified as an official member of the WHO AFHC (Alliance for healthy Cities).

AFHC was established in October 2003 and is an international network of healthy cities in the Western Pacific region based on international efforts to create healthy cities. Currently, research institutes and NGO are affiliated to this alliance, and 176 cities from 9 countries are currently certified as official members.

A healthy city refers to a city that makes continuous efforts to enhance the health and quality of life of citizens by developing the physical, social, and environmental conditions of the city creatively and consistently and by cooperating mutually with participating entities within the local society.

To obtain approval from the alliance, the city prepared the healthy city profile through status analysis, analyzed the main health issues, and submitted the policy description to acquire official membership by qualification from the operating committee of the alliance.

Accordingly, the city will receive the certification plaque during the AFHC General Meeting to be held in Kuching, Malaysia in 2018.

"We will do our best to enable all citizens of Nonsan to enjoy healthy, happy lives by actively developing health-related policies through mutual cooperation on the international network with AFHC and by sharing experiences with other member cities and holding technical consultation", said Kim Yeon-an, head of the healthy city support division. 

Meanwhile, the city will be holding the Healthy City Proclamation Ceremony and Health Hanmadang Festival in September to commemorate the official membership of AFHC and as part of efforts to make Nonsan a healthy city.