On 3 December 2024, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education hosted a ceremony celebrating Maragheh’s designation as the Islamic Republic of Iran’s second Healthy City. Minister of Health and Medical Education H.E. Dr Mohammad-Reza Zafarghadi presided over the ceremony which was attended by WHO Country Representative and Head of Mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain and Member of the Consultative Assembly for Maragheh Dr Seyed Farid Mousavi. WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy attended virtually.

Governor General of Maragheh District Dr Morteza Minouyi accepted the award from Dr Hussain.

“This achievement underscores Maragheh’s dedication to fostering a sustainable, healthier future and establishes a benchmark for cities nationwide,” said Dr Balkhy.

Dr Balkhy emphasized the significance of the Healthy Cities Programme: “As a platform for multisectoral collaboration, the Healthy Cities Programme empowers communities to actively participate in needs assessments and the effective planning of interventions aimed at improving public health, ensuring that no one is left behind. The Programme helps establish organizational structures to create and implement a shared vision for cities and their residents, placing health at the forefront. This approach promotes networking and action to achieve sustainable development goals at the city level through a bottom-up methodology.”