Documenting the Current State of the Healthy Municipalities, Cities and Communities Initiative in the Americas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to document the challenges, achievements, and lessons learned in municipalities where the Healthy Municipalities, Cities and Communities (HMC) strategy has been implemented in the Americas. A general survey was distributed through the HMC online network and through the Pan American Health Organization country offices. Municipalities answered questions regarding the planning, implementation, and evaluation phases of the strategy. Fifty-seven municipalities answered the survey. Ninety-three percent of the municipalities had signed a written agreement of political commitment to the HMC strategy. While 60% of the surveyed municipalities reported having a local health and well being situational analysis, 70% had an HMC Action Plan and only 58% had a follow-up and evaluation plan. The activities in which municipalities are engaged under the banner of the HMC strategy vary greatly in the Americas Region with varying degrees of success. Intersectorial collaboration and evaluation continues to be a challenge for the HMC initiative.