Invitation from the WHO

When the World Health Organization (WHO) wrote to Sarawak Health Department asking whether we want to participate in Kuching Healthy City in July 1994, Kuching North City Hall and The Council of Kuching City South agreed to participate. Dr. Hisashi Ogawa, a WHO consultant, came to brief the Mayors, staff of the City Councils, and Heads of relevant Departments on 11 August 1994. Following that briefing, a Committee was formed. It was jointly chaired by the two City Councils with the State Health Department acting as technical advisor. Starting initially as a project scheduled to run from 1995 to 2000, it is envisaged that the concept of Healthy City Kuching will become a way of life and the way to plan the City.

Briefing to the Honourable State Secretary & The Right Honourable Chief Minister

The Honourable State Secretary was informed about the Project via official memorandum prior to the First Conference. He was briefed personally about the Project on 03 February 1995. He gave his wholehearted support to the Project and identified problem areas (squatters, beggars, drainage, workers staying in shacks at construction sites, facilities for development of children, more greens and trees) as the priority areas to be tackled first.

A two-hour briefing and discussion session was also held with the Right Honourable Chief Minister on 14 February 1995. He was very supportive of the project and wanted the concept to be extended to the other towns in the State. He also instructed the State Planning Unit to coordinate the Project.

Since the programme started in 1994, various programmes and activities related to the Healthy City Programme have been carried out.