Kempen – Towns in Kempen joined Gezondheidsmakers Kempen, led by Lieselot Wynants, signing a health charter to promote well-being through exercise, smoke-free areas, mental health programs, and preventive healthcare like the 10,000 steps campaign.

In the Kempen region, Belgium, many towns have joined a program to promote health. Lieselot Wynants from Gezondheidsmakers Kempen says these towns want to create a place where people are encouraged to make healthy choices. A “healthy town” is one that not only tells people about health but also makes it easier for them to live healthy lives. 

He mentioned having places to exercise, holding events to raise awareness about health, and making sure public areas are good for people’s well-being. By signing the health charter, these towns are showing that they want to improve the lives of their citizens for a long time. 

How is Gezondheidsmakers Kempen helping towns improve health?

Gezondheidsmakers will work with each town to figure out the biggest health problems and where they need to help the most. Officials mentioned that one example is the 10,000 steps campaign, which has been going on for a while to encourage people to move more. But Gezondheidsmakers says health promotion is always important, it never stops. 

They mentioned that besides exercise, they can also focus on things like mental health, telling people about the dangers of vaping, making more smoke-free places, and studying cancer. Gezondheidsmakers said that towns can make their role in public health even stronger by making these programs bigger and better so people always have access to good preventive healthcare.

As Gezondheidsmakers states, Flemish people are living longer than ever, but it also means that more individuals are developing long-term ailments such as cancer and diabetes. They mentioned that it’s essential to concentrate on preventing these ailments before they arise because it can improve the lives of people and also benefit the healthcare system.

According to Lieselot Wynants from Gezondheidsmakers Kempen, the town governments are in a good position to lead this effort because they know their people and their needs. By making health a priority, towns can help their people live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Gezondheidsmakers is a group in Flanders that helps towns, schools, and healthcare groups create programs to keep people healthy. They want to help local governments and organizations make health a priority by giving them advice and helping them take action. 

One of their main programs is a health charter, which gives towns a plan for promoting well-being in their communities. When towns sign the charter, they agree to make long-lasting, good health policies that encourage people to live healthier lives.

They mentioned that these policies could be about promoting healthy eating and exercise, addressing mental health, or improving the environment. Gezondheidsmakers works with these towns to make sure these health programs are successful and become part of everyday life.