Health is not a matter of course for many Amsterdammers, and health is unevenly distributed across the city. The Amsterdam Health Policy Policy Document 2021-2025 Resilient Amsterdammers in a healthy city approach of the municipality of Amsterdam to reduce health inequalities in the city. We do this by fully focusing on prevention. The aim is an opportunity for all Amsterdammers, equal in age, background and education, to grow up resilient and healthy and to age in good health.

From the recently published Health Monitor 2020 shows that 80% of Amsterdammers feel healthy. But health differences are large: residents with a non-Western education and migration background have various low and mental complaints and an unhealthier lifestyle. For example, people with an education level of primary education and pre-vocational secondary education live on average six years shorter, and fifteen years less in good health, than people with a higher professional education or university education. Prevention, a solid social basis and timely identification are the keys to a resilient and healthy population.

Simone Kukenheim, Alderman for Healthcare: “The health differences are enormous. In Amsterdam, everyone should have an equal chance to grow up and live in good health. To achieve this, we are strongly committed to prevention and a healthy lifestyle. This already starts with supporting the youngest youth and (future) parents. From creating a healthy food environment, encouraging sports and exercise to learning to talk about feelings and mental health. This investment in prevention has a long-term outlook in terms of health benefits, both in terms of the mental health of Amsterdammers.”

Integrated approach

In the Amsterdam health policy 2021-2025, the perspective is of ‘positive health’. This is not only about health, but also about physical well-being, meaning, quality of life, participation and functioning. In the memorandum, the approach to tackling problems in conjunction is further elaborated on the basis of seven spearheads: healthy, safe and promising youth, vital Amsterdammers, becoming permanent, mental health, protection against infectious diseases, a healthy city and social security as the basis of health. . Amsterdam should join existing partnerships as much as possible, such as Amsterdam Vital & Healthy and Healthy & Prosperous Start.

Asking unequally for fair opportunities

The risk of minimal health inequalities is to take additional risks. These are the Amsterdam youth and Amsterdammers with an unfavorable socio-economic position. Over the next four years, Amsterdam wants to focus even more on these groups from the perspective of public health.

In order to really make a difference, insight into the local tasks and structures is also required. That is why an analysis is made per district of how health can be improved in the districts and neighbourhoods. This is done with an eye for the enormous diversity in the city. applied, the perspective of the Amsterdammer is central and a connection is sought with the language, culture, values ​​and perception of the Amsterdammers.