The world celebrates each year on 5 April, the World Health Day. The theme identified by World
Health Organisation this Day in 2010 will be Urbanisation and Health. The theme was selected in
recognition of the effect urbanization has on our collective health globally and for us all individually.
The campaign would be conducted in 1000 cities, the world over. One thousand will be organised
worldwide during the week, 7- 11 April 2010.
The global goals of the campaign are:
1000 cities: to open up public spaces to health, whether it be activities in parks, town hall
meetings, clean-up campaigns, or closing off portions of streets to motorized vehicles.
1000 lives: to collect 1000 stories of urban health champions who have taken action and
had a significant impact on health in their cities.
In view of the current trends in infrastructure and their implications on health, the World Health
Organisation has decided to lay emphasis on following areas.
Excessive growth of urban conglomerations: Over half the world’s population now live in cities. By
2030, six out of every 10 people will be city dwellers, rising to seven out of every 10 people by 2050. In
many cases, especially in the developing world, the speed of urbanization has outpaced the ability of
governments to build essential infrastructure. This shall have natural repercussions on health
security and safety of all citizens in cities.
Urban poor suffer disproportionately from a wide range of diseases and other health problems:
World Bank estimates that by 2035, cities will become the predominant sites of poverty. Health
problems of the urban poor include an increased risk for violence, chronic disease, and for some
communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Solutions exist to tackle the root causes of urban health challenges:Urban planning can promote
healthy behaviours and safety through investment in active transport, designing areas to promote
physical activity and passing regulatory controls on tobacco and food safety. Building inclusive
cities that are accessible and age-friendly will benefit all urban residents.
Partnering multiple sectors to make cities healthier: Health is a human right for all citizens. It is
the role and responsibility of individuals, civil society, and governments to uphold this principle.
Platforms where municipalities, civil society and individuals come together must be encouraged to
protect the right to health of current and future generations of urban dwellers.
Appropriate line of action is required in the wake of: growing health inequities in all cities; urban
environmental health; urban transport and health; the growing burden of non-communicable diseases;
diet and physical activity in urban settings; smoking and second hand smoke in urban areas;
violence in urban areas; mental health; tuberculosis; HIV/AIDS; urbanisation and maternal and
child health; public health emergencies and humanitarian crises in urban settings.
Addressing the challenges requires:
Urban planning promoting healthy behaviours and safety;
Improving urban living conditions;
Participatory urban governance;
Making urban areas resilient to emergencies and disasters.
