MORE than 40 artists volunteered to paint the walls of the Psychiatric Hospital, in Salmaniya, yesterday.
The activity, part of a project called Manama: A Healthy City, saw street furniture installed in outdoor spaces and seedlings planted.
It follows a collaboration with Bahrain University on the benefits of colour healing and colour therapy practices.
Phase two of the project includes beautification inside the Psychiatric Hospital, to be followed by similar initiatives at health centres.
Yesterday’s initiative was held under the patronage of Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, in collaboration with the Health Ministry.
Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh said such schemes contributed to the success of Bahrain’s “healthy cities” initiative, which aims to transform urban areas in Manama into healthy living spaces.
“This initiative is important and it represents the commitment of Bahraini society to promote health, adopt healthier lifestyles and disease prevention,” she said.
“It is one of the first goals that the Health Ministry is keen to achieve through community-based preventative health initiatives.
“It encourages community members to adopt healthy lifestyles.”
Shaikh Hisham said authorities were keen to encourage more community initiatives.
“The governorate is keen on intensifying the community partnership, between government authorities and civil societies and individuals,” he said.
“This aims to achieve standards of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Healthy Cities.”
