The Royal Borough of Greenwich has hosted its first ever Health Equity Summit, marking a major step forward in its commitment to tackling health inequalities across the borough.
Held at Woolwich’s Tramshed, the summit was led by the council’s Public Health team and brought together local partners and organisations, alongside representatives from the NHS and other council services.
The event focused on working together to address the root causes of poor health and ensure every resident can live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. It follows the publication of the Director of Public Health’s independent report, ‘Working Together for Fairer, Healthier Lives for All’, which calls for coordinated, long-term action.
Throughout the day, attendees explored how factors such as housing, education, employment, access to healthy food and transport, otherwise known as the building blocks of health, shape resident outcomes. Discussions centered on prevention, early intervention and community-led approaches, with an understanding of the need to work in partnership to reduce unfair and avoidable differences in health.
Councillor Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and Borough of Sanctuary said:
“Too many of our residents experience unfair differences in their health because of the circumstances in which they are born, grow, live and work.
“Through our Annual Public Health Report and Health Equity Summit, we are demonstrating how we will work with partners and communities to prevent ill health, tackle poverty and remove barriers to opportunity, so that everyone in our borough can live a healthier life no matter where you live or how you’ve grown up. A huge to thanks to everyone who attended, contributed to discussions, and committed to taking long-term action.”
Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich said:
“Fairness is at the heart of everything we do in Greenwich. This summit shows our determination to work hand in hand with partners and residents to address the inequalities that affect people’s health and life chances, and to build a borough where everyone can thrive.”
As part of its continued commitment to collective action, the council has also launched a new ‘How you can support fairer health’ toolkit.
The toolkit provides practical information, tools, resources and training for organisations, community groups and individuals who want to play a part in reducing health inequalities. It is designed to empower partners and residents to take meaningful action and contribute to the mission to achieve a fairer, healthier Greenwich for all.
Watch our short video from the summit, where attendees share what fair health in Greenwich looks like to them.
We have many fantastic examples of our community leaders in Royal Greenwich supporting the health and wellbeing of our diverse communities in innovative and inclusive ways.
Read about some of their stories and how they are making a difference.