Box 2:

A Strategic Approach to Providing Information

Kuopio has adopted a comprehensive approach to information provision, using a wide range of mechanisms and demonstrating a concern to integrate passive information giving with experiential learning:

“On the strategic level, the City of Kuopio has made a decision that the Healthy Kuopio programme and the WHO Healthy Cities Network are the major brands of the region… To achieve this, we inform our citizens about health in all possible ways: via the internet, media co-operation, leaflets, posters, events, etc. Residential halls function especially as meeting points for the elderly and work in concert to promote health information… The Social and Health Care sector has had its own information officer… which has improved communication within the city administration and to citizens. A planning officer who is responsible for health promotion gives lectures and information.”

Udine demonstrates a wide-ranging approach to keeping citizens well-informed, utilizing general and targeted mechanisms:

“Citizens are kept informed about health topics, projects and statistics as well as about educational, cultural or recreational initiatives regarding health or community life in general through local newspapers, radio and TV. Moreover, specific publications are produced regarding specific themes or addressing specific population groups such as older people and children. For example, the Department of Social Services produces a publication taking stock of all the activities that the municipality implemented every year and of the services offered. Some pages are also devoted to the Healthy Cities Project activities. This publication is distributed as an attachment to the local newspaper. Another specific publication is the City Health Profile… Information is inserted on websites both by the Municipality and by the Local Health Agency allowing users to get real-time and accessible information about the performance of local services.”