Why urban health matters

Urban health matt ers, in critical ways, for more and more people. And WHO will be doing more, today
and well into the future, to support these eff orts.

1. Promote urban planning for healthy behaviours and safety
2. Improve urban living conditions
3. Ensure participatory urban governance
4. Build inclusive cities that are accessible and age-friendly
5. Make urban areas resilient to emergencies and disasters
Later in the year, WHO and UN-HABITAT will be launching a report on urban health inequities and how to address them. Titled Hidden cities, the report is aimed at unmasking and overcoming health inequities in urban sett ings, and includes abundant practical examples and policy advice on specific evidence-based interventions.
In November 2010, a global forum on urbanization and health, to be held in Kobe, Japan, will bring together municipal authorities and decision-makers across multiple sectors with the aim of promoting intersectoral action to reduce urban health inequities.
In a dedicated programme, WHO and its six regional offi ces will work with specifi c cities and national authorities to assess urban health inequities and identify appropriate actions to reduce them.
To maintain momentum, urban health advocates are being identifi ed and successful city experiences will be shared as menus of policy options and models of good practice.
WHO will help municipal authorities in assessing the health impact of planning options in other sectors, such as urban transportation and the safety of roads for both vehicles and pedestrians.
Dr Margaret Chan
Director-General of the World Health Organization 5