Health Challenge Wales is a valuable national focus for better health and an overarching concept that sets the many policy initiatives and statutory obligations on local government into context and links them coherently.
It attempts to challenge everyone in Wales to consider their actions and promote a collective contribution for securing a healthier Wales that all can benefit from and enjoy.
Local government views the challenges of delivering the health agenda within this wider context and makes a massive contribution when you consider the breadth of its responsibilities, its unique relationship with central government and the communities to whom it is democratically accountable.
Health Challenge Wales provides local government with a major opportunity to reinforce awareness of the extensive and vital contribution it plays while recognising that difficult decisions and challenges are a natural consequence. It also provides an opportunity to develop even further its role in improving health and in reducing health inequalities. Local government must aim to be an exemplar of good practice and strive to innovate and embrace good practice and collaborative activities.
Responding to the Challenge will inevitably lead to greater clarity about individuals’ and organisations’ contributions while providing a framework for consistently reinforcing common messages and objectives across Wales. Local government is well-placed to play its part through its community leadership role and through the strong partnerships it has created and supported with the private and public sector.
In Spring 2004 local government outlined its approach to Health Challenge Wales at a special WLGA conference held at the Cardiff Marriott Hotel.
For more information contact: Sue Whitford