David's Blog
A blog to promote debate and discussion around current issues of interest to the network. David MacKintosh, one of the founders of the network, writes a weekly blog piece, all editions of which can be found here. We also invite contributions to the blog from others with ideas and opinions on issues relating to health behaviours and urban health and wellbeing. If you would like to contribute, please send your post to us for consideration at [email protected] - if accepted for publication, your blog will be posted here on the GPHN website, as well as being included in the weekly GPHN alerts sent to all those in the network.
David's blog #21: Which City? Whose City?
What has this got to do with City Health you ask? Well, in recent months there have been several surveys published which claim to identify the healthiest city. Undertaken by different agencies, u...
David's blog #20: Live Long and Prosper?
Personally, I am particularly looking forward to the session entitled Politics and Public Health, friends or enemies? This relates directly to what I see as one of the greatest challenges facing ...
David's blog #19 :Hands Across the Silos
Since 2012 City Health International has provided a space where a broad range of agencies and cities can showcase and discuss innovative projects. This has provided a rich environment to allow for...
David's blog #18: Well-lit streets discourage sin, but don’t overdo it -William Kennedy
Of course, the reality is that tremendous potential exists within our cities to help positively shape the global future. Around the world it can seem that the traditional nation state is struggli...
David's blog #17: Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength (Betty Friedan)
Last year’s City Health conference in Basel provided some great presentations on how the challenges and needs of ageing populations can be considered and successfully addressed in urban settings....
David's blog #16: Losing Sight of the Prize
Work to reduce the massive toll of death and illness caused by smoking is an important component of national and global public health strategies. The rationale driving this is simple. A 100 millio...
David's blog #15: Wheels of Good Fortune and Postcode Lotteries
Then of course there is the issue of how health services are paid for and equity of access. Is it generally available free at the point of access? Do you have to pay a fee? Is there a social or pr...
David's blog #14: You may not take an interest in politics, but it will take an interest in you (with apologies to Pericles)
Returning to our American friends:, as well as being a great opportunity to learn about their experiences, their visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on the political differences in terms...
David's blog #13:Violence comes not from genes but from ideas (Edward Bond)
Public health has much to offer here. Developing an understanding of the epidemiology around a specific type of violence, considering its social determinants, a commitment to evidence-based respon...
David's blog #12: Read All About It
Does this matter? I think it does. The simple fact is that, despite the best attempts of public health campaigns around the world, most people don’t get their information about health issues from ...