Competent mayor, healthy citizen
Politics, for better or for worse, plays an important role in health. The purpose of this article is to analyze the role of politics in public health.
Politics that are accountable to the people play a positive role in society by incorporating health and disease prevention policies into government planning. They seriously take up such public health issues as they could draw a picture of the impact it has on the public.
Secondly, in a country like ours, the vicious cycle of how political leaders, ignoring serious public health problems, pursue their own vested interests, and indulge in the vested interests of their political party, evade the commendable leadership. In fact, only a clean political status can identify the conditions for a major transformation of health policy.
Focusing on the critical stages of planning and policy making and making the most of available resources and opportunities, political leaders are in the position to play the role of “game changer” in public health.
On the one hand, legislation needs to be enacted to address the malpractices while delivering of medical care, and on the other hand, the public can only be reassured if the country's health operations are handed over to a leadership that can meet the challenge of long-term policy implementation to make sure on the availability of adequate doctors.
The mayor of a city can do a lot to improve health in urban areas. One is to increase access to health by promoting the concept of social health care and paving the way for reducing inequality in services.
To reduce the growing number of non-communicable diseases and lifestyle related diseases in the world - the development of wide walkways, parks, bicycle lanes and clean walk through markets in every small community will help to reduce the incidence of diabetes, hypertension and obesity in the citizens. The availability of open-air physical exercise and playgrounds are even more commendable.
Only the mayor's office can have a positive impact on public health if it shows a willingness to play a significant role in public housing, public transport while preserving environmental impact by honestly adhering to standards without indulging into corruption and compromise with the defaulters. Mayors need to focus on improving public transportation systems that are environmentally friendly. It is important to consider both -scalable in the long run and sustainable in operation. Easy access to transportation will open up a wide range of alternative services, social activities and employment opportunities- that capacitates the public to healthy food and livelihood.
Garbage management is another aspect in which mayors of developing nations have failed. It is said that good garbage management in the country starts from the kitchen of every household. Increasing the awareness of citizens towards waste management is more challenging than managing the waste itself.
Unfortunately, there will be an acute shortage of drinking water in the coming days. The regulation, regular inspection on distribution of healthy and clean drinking water must be an important agenda of the mayors. Preventing water leakage, identifying new natural sources of water, provision for recharging groundwater, and harvesting rainwater for its optimal use, are now part of the indispensable action plan.
In Kathmandu alone, more than 1,000 houses get the blueprint of construction approved by the Mayor's office annually. However, inspections of non-compliance on approved design with the law during the construction period, unauthorized encroachment on public property, spreading preventable pollution in the environment, and non-compliance with safety standards for pedestrians are almost non-existent. The main cause of dust pollution in the environment is because of unmanaged construction and neglected rule of law and civic sense.
The mayor also has to worry about food security as there are elements in all societies who try to make money by compromising public health. It is imperative to stop the unrestrained marketing and sales of
- ~poisoned fruits and vegetables
- ~unhealthy fish and meat
- ~food items that have a devastating effect on societal health.
- ~ scientifically certified trans-fats available in different forms.
All those who try to open fish & meat shops and slaughter-houses must be provided with training on food safety and traceability. Mandatory license and regular inspection and monitoring in place is the key to serve fresh food items that are sensitive to temperature.
On the eve of the local elections, I tried to present some talking points on how a competent mayor can have a positive impact on the health of city dwellers and about his role in drawing attention of officials and agencies responsible for implementing and managing health policies. I anticipate this article will also help to motivate public health professionals to conduct more realistic research and evaluations to understand the political dimensions in health policies.
