Cherepovets

Cherepovets is a major industrial centre in Northwest Russia. The foundation of the economic potential of Cherepovets is the enterprises of ferrous metallurgy and the chemical complex. Present-day Cherepovets is the industrial center of the Vologda Oblast: its economy determines the socio-economic position of the entire region (about 80% of the Oblast's export comes from Cherepovets).

Cherepovets is a major industrial centre in Northwest Russia. The foundation of the economic potential of Cherepovets is the enterprises of ferrous metallurgy and the chemical complex. Present-day Cherepovets is the industrial center of the Vologda Oblast: its economy determines the socio-economic position of the entire region (about 80% of the Oblast's export comes from Cherepovets).

Due to its favourable economic-geographic position, developed transport infrastructure, solid economic potential and highly qualified personnel, Cherepovets is one of the most developed industrial centres of the country.

Challenge for the pilot

In 2016, Cherepovets followed the recommendations of the World Health Organization. In accordance with these recommendations a city project "0-5-30" was developed and launched. The key goals of the project focus on the main controllable factors of population mortality – the impact of these factors can have a positive effect on the strategic objectives of increasing the healthy life expectancy of the city's population:

  • Encouraging the population to give up their bad habits ( item "0" in the project);
  • Developing a culture of good nutrition among different age groups of the population (item "5" in the project);
  • Encouraging physical activity among the population (item "30" in the project).

Despite the apparent simplicity of the concept, its implementation requires a serious, comprehensive programme that will unite the efforts of all stakeholders and identify specific tasks and activities for each participant.

Currently, the city's media space lacks a single resource that accumulates all information on issues related to healthy lifestyle, disease prevention, etc.

As part of the pilot, activities are being implemented in Cherepovets to improve the mechanism of cross-sectoral cooperation in the implementation of the city's project "0-5-30": an active, centralised- city Internet platform (Health Portal "0-5-30") is being developed to bring together information, references, and educational resources/services on public health promotion.

How the model for cross-sectoral cooperation benefitted the pilot?

The project implemented in Cherepovets is intended to meet the needs of a wide range of stakeholders. The end users are all groups of the city's population. With extremely limited resources, the Model allows to organise a process of mutual understanding of different parties, to ensure effective communication between different partners and levels, as well as to coordinate this work to achieve the desired result.

The Model is good for the analysis and evaluation of the cross-sectoral cooperation itself in the project after its implementation – feedback on the Model algorithm from ALL participants. This will make it possible to understand weaknesses and prevent them in the next project or in the next phase.

How did the pilot benefit the life of the residents?

In accordance with the 0-5-30 concept (0 (no) bad habits, 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, 30-30 minutes of physical activity a day), the website includes the following sections - information bank (webinars, articles, statistics, etc.), interactive services (tests, health calculators, etc.), navigation (events calendar, health groups, sports facilities, etc.).

Due to the developed website, city residents will be able to receive necessary, useful information on health promotion in a prompt and timely manner, thereby investing in their health and improving it.

How was extended reality (XR) used in pilot?

Within the framework of the project, in the city of Cherepovets, software was developed for the virtual reality programs "Mind Gymnastics" and "Healthy Basket", as well as the necessary VR equipment was purchased.

The program "Mind Gymnastics" involves a set of exercises to improve health, physical activity. The "Healthy Basket" program is aimed at increasing knowledge about proper nutrition - the benefits and harms of foods.

Currently, VR equipment and installed software for VR programs "Mind Gymnastics" and "Healthy Basket" have been transferred to the "Children's Technopark" Quantorium" in the city of Cherepovets and are already being used in the anti-cafe, which was opened on the basis of "Quantorium".

What was the value of having transnational peers in healthy boost project?

The city of Cherepovets under the coordination of the Association "Healthy Cities, Districts and Villages" has for the first time joined the transnational cooperation with the countries of the Baltic Sea Region as part of the "Interreg. Baltic Sea Region" programme. The development and strengthening of transnational cooperation contributes significantly to the exchange of best practices and learning from each other for more innovative, effective and holistic - cross-sectoral urban policies for health and well-being.

New about the Cherepovets pilot

All news items about Cherepovets on Healthy Boost website.

Tatiana Shestakova
zgcherepovets [at] gmail.com
Workshop, people around the meeting table.