How great public health ideas become law
Read about how six Latin America cities prioritized health and safety in 2023, as part of their work with the Partnership's Policy Accelerator program.
What's the latest?
One year into a new policymaking program for city governments, six Latin America cities in the Partnership for Healthy Cities network convened in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic late last year to share progress on building public support and other strategic goals for passing new public health laws.
The six Latin American cities are among a total of 13 worldwide currently participating in the Partnership’s Policy Accelerator program. The program, launched in 2021, is comprised of intensive technical assistance, trainings and peer-to-peer discussions on every step of the policy process—from how to garner public support to legal and budgetary considerations. The 13 cities involved are pursuing a range of public health and safety goals such as making their downtown areas smoke-free, reducing traffic fatalities and getting schoolchildren to drink more water and fewer sugary drinks.
Gallery
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1 of 5 On the last day of the Policy Accelerator meeting, the local Santo Domingo team invited participants to visit an intersection transformed through a Partnership-supported speed-management intervention. -
2 of 5 Vital Strategies’ Mallika Auplish, Carisse Hamlet and Mariana Espinosa Estrada were among the organizers of the Santo Domingo convening -
3 of 5 Following the convening, Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía (sixth from the left) met with Vital Strategies, WHO and PAHO staff, as well as the city team -
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What's next?
Participants in the Partnership convening reported returning home with new ideas for winning passage of their Policy Accelerator proposals in local city councils—expected in coming months in a handful of the cities. In the meantime, applications for a second cohort of cities are due January 18, 2023.
This feature was published by Vital Strategies on Jan. 10, 2023.
Related
Read more about the Partnership's Policy Accelerator program.
Santo Domingo is taking on one of the world’s biggest causes of death for young people.
In April 2023, the city launched the new campaign, as part of its work with the Policy Accelerator.