Posted in Team Journal

We discussed health literacy with local governments at the Healthy Cities Forum

CancerDisinfo

On May 13–14, the Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center hosted a multi-layered, inspiring event featuring simultaneous sessions. As the CancerDisinfo team, we participated in the Healthy Cities Forum organized by the Healthy Cities Association of Türkiye.

Bringing together local governments, international networks, academia, and civil society representatives, the forum went beyond simply sharing best practices; it transformed into a dynamic platform for interaction where concrete, adaptable solutions for different cities were developed.

Notes from our “Health Literacy” workshop

During the “Health Literacy” workshop we conducted as part of the forum, we connected with health department staff from various municipalities, healthcare professionals, and distinguished participants. We organized our workshop, a space for mutual exchange, shared experiences, and collective reflection on specific questions around the following key topics:

  • The necessity and importance of addressing the concept of health literacy through an interdisciplinary lens today.
  • The dissemination dynamics of health information in the digital world.
  • The distinguishing characteristics of health misinformation, detection methods, and a concrete case study.
  • Designing effective and sustainable initiatives led by local governments and organized around communities to combat misinformation.

The role of local governments in the digital age

During the evaluation segment of the workshop, we discussed how local governments need to re-evaluate health literacy in light of their past experience, while keeping pace with the dynamic nature of the digital ecosystem. Health literacy efforts need to be restructured to speak both internally (to all staff) and externally. The experiences shared during the workshop point clearly to this need. We must continue to discuss our knowledge on equal ground, learn from one another, and organize what we have learned around local communities.

Local governments must lead on health literacy

The discussions throughout the workshop demonstrated once again how vital it is to integrate health literacy into the service policies of local governments. Enabling urban residents to access accurate health information and use it to improve their quality of life requires a collective effort. Partnerships established primarily with local governments, grassroots initiatives, and civil society will be our greatest strength in building the healthy cities of the future.

We can restructure health-related information together with local communities and urban residents in a way that enhances the quality of life in our cities. The most crucial thing we need to achieve this is to create more equal ground.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved

As the CancerDisinfo team, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the forum staff, who supported us every step of the way with their enthusiasm and wonderful hospitality in the beautiful atmosphere of the Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center; to all our workshop participants, who broadened our horizons with their unique experiences; and to everyone who contributed to this invaluable gathering.

A group of people seated in a conference room attending a workshop, with a presentation screen displaying 'Health Literacy Workshop'. Two presenters are in the front, one man and one woman.
A workshop setting with a presentation screen displaying 'Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Atölyesi'. Two presenters are standing, one is speaking while the other prepares materials on a table. Attendees are seated in chairs, actively listening.
A workshop titled 'Health Literacy Workshop' is presented on a screen in a meeting room. A man stands beside the screen while a woman interacts with participants in the foreground.

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