Global mayors meet in Japan to address urban health problems
KOBE, Japan, 15 November 2010-In an unprecedented demonstration of global collaboration, city and national leaders from
around the world are coming together in Kobe, Japan, to develop policies to improve the health of city dwellers.
Urbanization is a major challenge for public health, with more than half of the world's population now living in urban
areas, the WHO Global Forum on Urbanization and Health was told. With the number of urban residents growing by nearly 60
million people a year, urban planning to reflect broader policies incorporating health is now more vital than ever.
"Building on the opportunities presented by concentrated urban living, city leaders can have a dramatic and positive
impact on the health of their societies," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan. "Providing safe public transport,
investing in public utilities, and reducing air pollution by banning smoking in public can lead to a marked improvement
in urban public health."
Dr Shin Young-soo, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for the Western Pacific, told the gathering: "Urban
living has improved the lives of many people. It has provided them with a good income, a better standard of living and
access to public services, including health facilities. But unplanned, unregulated urbanization can lead to exactly the
opposite - to unemployment, to poverty and to poorer health." Poorly managed urbanization puts a strain on water
supplies and sanitation systems, damages the environment and leaves populations vulnerable to man-made and natural
disasters, Dr Shin said. "We have seen many examples of this in the Western Pacific Region. That includes my home city
of Manila, which suffered catastrophic flooding last year." By building on the opportunities presented by concentrated
urban living, city leaders who improve transport links, invest in public utilities, and support better services for
their populations can have a dramatic and positive impact on their health.
In Shanghai, China, for instance, vigorous efforts have been made to introduce smoke-free environments. In-door
smoke-control legislation was passed on 1 March 2010, and the recent World Expo held there was largely smoke free, with
smoking banned in all restaurants and a prohibition on tobacco sales and advertising.
Ministers and city leaders from over 90 countries around the world will be exchanging experiences to see how they can
shape policy to enhance, rather than damage, the health of their populations. There have been several recent and
important commitments from leaders to improve urban living. In the Western Pacific, Health Ministers attending WHO's
annual meeting in October agreed to expand the current Healthy Cities and Health Islands initiatives. In South East
Asia, Ministers of Health signed the Bangkok Declaration on Urbanization and Health in September. And in the Americas,
Health Ministers held a roundtable on 29 September to discuss the issues.
Dr Shin said he applauded these efforts, but the truth was that there was a limit to what the health sector could do
alone. "The power to change things lies with the people who are responsible for education, for transport, for housing,
for sanitation and for designing urban environments that encourage us to exercise more," Dr Shin said.
ENDS