WHO Advocates For Healthy and Resilient Cities in the Western Pacific Region- Media Release
Hi dearies!
Last April 27, 2015, I attended the World Health Organization (WHO) Press Forum on "Healthy Cities Across the Western Pacific" and "Urban Health" held at the Diamond Hotel, Manila, Philippines.
From left to right: Mr. Hans Olsen, acting Public Information Officer, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Dr Susan P. Mercado, Director, Division of Noncommunicable Disease and Health through the Life-Course, Honourable Hae-Sik Lee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, Seoul Republic of Korea, Honourable Jose Enrique S. Garcia, Mayor of Balanga City, Bataan Republic of the Philippines, Professor Sandro Galea, Dean, School of Public Health, Boston University, Dr Hai-Rim Shin, Coordinator, Noncommunicable Diseases and Health Promotion, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
Here is the News Release from WHO:
Half the people in the Western Pacific Region already live in cities, and this trend is expected to accelerate in the future. Rapid and unplanned urbanization has given rise to slums and informal settlements. No reliable count exists for the Region; however, a survey of six Member States (Cambodia, China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Philippines and Viet Nam) found that more than 212.5 million people live in slums, according to 2009 figures. People living in slums are exposed to a wide range of risk factors including: (1) a lack of safe drinking water; (2) improper sanitation; (3) unsafe food; (4) limited access to health services; (5) increased exposure to violence and exploitation; and (6) social isolation, among others.
“Throughout the world we are witnessing a period of rapid growth and unprecedented urbanization,” said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Cities are now faced with increasingly complex challenges from climate change, globalization of trade, changing lifestyles and overpopulation. Without effective governance, cities will struggle to provide even the most basic services. They will become places where inequality, poverty and poor health are rampant.”
Health challenges of the urban age
The World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting the Technical Consultation on Urban Health in the Western Pacific Region from 27–28 April. The consultation will: (1) review progress in the implementation of the Regional Framework for Scaling Up and Expanding Healthy Cities in the Western Pacific 2011–2015; (2) discuss challenges and opportunities to urban health in the Western Pacific Region; and (3) outline the strategic focus areas that will contribute to updating the framework for healthy urbanization for the Western Pacific Region for 2016– 2020.
“The updated framework calls on cities to anticipate, mitigate and adapt to current and emerging threats to urban health. These include threats from climate change as evidenced by cyclones and typhoons of unprecedented speed and force causing widespread destruction,” according to Dr Susan Mercado, Director for Noncommunicable Diseases and Health through the Life-Course at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
Floods and storms are the most frequently occurring natural disasters in the Region—affecting approximately 3.35 billion people between 1970 and 2014.
In terms of air pollution, the Western Pacific Region bears a disproportionately high burden: an estimated 2.88 million (41%) of deaths globally due to indoor and outdoor air pollution occur here. According to a database of 1600 cities in 91 countries, only 12% of people living in these cities breathe air that complies with WHO guidelines.
Dramatic increases in the number of vehicles cause not only road congestion but also increase the risks of road traffic injury, contribute to air pollution and promote sedentary lifestyles, which increases the risk for overweight and diabetes. Road traffic injuries are the second leading cause of death among those aged 5–14 in the Western Pacific, claiming some 900 lives a day, according to WHO estimates.
Healthy Cities rise to the challenge
To make cities healthy and resilient, national and local governments must invest in building up a city’s resources and capacity. This involves working closely with other sectors such as housing, transportation, energy and education, to integrate health in the design of urban environments.
WHO has been working with cities across the Region to recognize and promote best practices, facilitate city-to-city learning and advocate for health at the center of urban planning and development. The Alliance for Healthy Cities, established by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, is an international network that protects and enhances the health of city dwellers. The alliance meets biennially to share knowledge and information while promoting the Healthy Cities approach to members and the public.
During its November 2014 meeting in Hong Kong SAR (China), 13 cities in the Region were recognized for outstanding work in promoting healthy diets and breastfeeding, tobacco control, implementation of water safety plans and creating safe, disability-inclusive and gender- responsive communities.
The WHO-Macao SAR (China) Healthy Cities leadership programme has been instrumental in scaling up this initiative. Since 2012 city-to-city study tours have been organized with participants from 10 priority cities across the Region. Participants attended a healthy cities leadership course and visited sites to gain knowledge and experience to share upon returning to their respective cities.
“The vision of healthy and resilient cities is achievable because mayors and city officials are committed to the health of their constituents. Good health is good politics,” said Dr Shin. “The world is changing and cities can be engines for growth, health and resilience.”
Related links:
Urban Health in the Western Pacific http://www.wpro.who.int/health_promotion/about/urban_health/en/
Healthy Urbanization: Regional Framework for Scaling Up and Expanding Healthy Cities in the Western Pacific (2011-2015) http://www.wpro.who.int/health_promotion/documents/healthy_urbanization_regional_framew ork.pdf?ua=1
Health topic: Urban Health http://www.who.int/topics/urban_health/en/
Alliance for Healthy Cities http://www.alliance-healthycities.com/
Bloggers photo op with Mr. Hans Olsen. Yours truly is at the rightmost, protected by the Almighty.
WHO Urban Survival Kit- earplugs and gas mask against noise and air pollution, and airborne disease, alcohol to fight germs.
Thank you for reading the Media Release of the World Health Organization for Healthy and Resilient Cities across the Western Pacific!
Last April 27, 2015, I attended the World Health Organization (WHO) Press Forum on "Healthy Cities Across the Western Pacific" and "Urban Health" held at the Diamond Hotel, Manila, Philippines.
From left to right: Mr. Hans Olsen, acting Public Information Officer, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Dr Susan P. Mercado, Director, Division of Noncommunicable Disease and Health through the Life-Course, Honourable Hae-Sik Lee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, Seoul Republic of Korea, Honourable Jose Enrique S. Garcia, Mayor of Balanga City, Bataan Republic of the Philippines, Professor Sandro Galea, Dean, School of Public Health, Boston University, Dr Hai-Rim Shin, Coordinator, Noncommunicable Diseases and Health Promotion, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
Here is the News Release from WHO:
Half the people in the Western Pacific Region already live in cities, and this trend is expected to accelerate in the future. Rapid and unplanned urbanization has given rise to slums and informal settlements. No reliable count exists for the Region; however, a survey of six Member States (Cambodia, China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Philippines and Viet Nam) found that more than 212.5 million people live in slums, according to 2009 figures. People living in slums are exposed to a wide range of risk factors including: (1) a lack of safe drinking water; (2) improper sanitation; (3) unsafe food; (4) limited access to health services; (5) increased exposure to violence and exploitation; and (6) social isolation, among others.
“Throughout the world we are witnessing a period of rapid growth and unprecedented urbanization,” said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Cities are now faced with increasingly complex challenges from climate change, globalization of trade, changing lifestyles and overpopulation. Without effective governance, cities will struggle to provide even the most basic services. They will become places where inequality, poverty and poor health are rampant.”
Health challenges of the urban age
The World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting the Technical Consultation on Urban Health in the Western Pacific Region from 27–28 April. The consultation will: (1) review progress in the implementation of the Regional Framework for Scaling Up and Expanding Healthy Cities in the Western Pacific 2011–2015; (2) discuss challenges and opportunities to urban health in the Western Pacific Region; and (3) outline the strategic focus areas that will contribute to updating the framework for healthy urbanization for the Western Pacific Region for 2016– 2020.
“The updated framework calls on cities to anticipate, mitigate and adapt to current and emerging threats to urban health. These include threats from climate change as evidenced by cyclones and typhoons of unprecedented speed and force causing widespread destruction,” according to Dr Susan Mercado, Director for Noncommunicable Diseases and Health through the Life-Course at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
Floods and storms are the most frequently occurring natural disasters in the Region—affecting approximately 3.35 billion people between 1970 and 2014.
In terms of air pollution, the Western Pacific Region bears a disproportionately high burden: an estimated 2.88 million (41%) of deaths globally due to indoor and outdoor air pollution occur here. According to a database of 1600 cities in 91 countries, only 12% of people living in these cities breathe air that complies with WHO guidelines.
Dramatic increases in the number of vehicles cause not only road congestion but also increase the risks of road traffic injury, contribute to air pollution and promote sedentary lifestyles, which increases the risk for overweight and diabetes. Road traffic injuries are the second leading cause of death among those aged 5–14 in the Western Pacific, claiming some 900 lives a day, according to WHO estimates.
Healthy Cities rise to the challenge
To make cities healthy and resilient, national and local governments must invest in building up a city’s resources and capacity. This involves working closely with other sectors such as housing, transportation, energy and education, to integrate health in the design of urban environments.
WHO has been working with cities across the Region to recognize and promote best practices, facilitate city-to-city learning and advocate for health at the center of urban planning and development. The Alliance for Healthy Cities, established by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, is an international network that protects and enhances the health of city dwellers. The alliance meets biennially to share knowledge and information while promoting the Healthy Cities approach to members and the public.
During its November 2014 meeting in Hong Kong SAR (China), 13 cities in the Region were recognized for outstanding work in promoting healthy diets and breastfeeding, tobacco control, implementation of water safety plans and creating safe, disability-inclusive and gender- responsive communities.
The WHO-Macao SAR (China) Healthy Cities leadership programme has been instrumental in scaling up this initiative. Since 2012 city-to-city study tours have been organized with participants from 10 priority cities across the Region. Participants attended a healthy cities leadership course and visited sites to gain knowledge and experience to share upon returning to their respective cities.
“The vision of healthy and resilient cities is achievable because mayors and city officials are committed to the health of their constituents. Good health is good politics,” said Dr Shin. “The world is changing and cities can be engines for growth, health and resilience.”
Related links:
Urban Health in the Western Pacific http://www.wpro.who.int/health_promotion/about/urban_health/en/
Healthy Urbanization: Regional Framework for Scaling Up and Expanding Healthy Cities in the Western Pacific (2011-2015) http://www.wpro.who.int/health_promotion/documents/healthy_urbanization_regional_framew ork.pdf?ua=1
Health topic: Urban Health http://www.who.int/topics/urban_health/en/
Alliance for Healthy Cities http://www.alliance-healthycities.com/
Bloggers photo op with Mr. Hans Olsen. Yours truly is at the rightmost, protected by the Almighty.
WHO Urban Survival Kit- earplugs and gas mask against noise and air pollution, and airborne disease, alcohol to fight germs.
Thank you for reading the Media Release of the World Health Organization for Healthy and Resilient Cities across the Western Pacific!
Comments
Post a Comment
Hello and welcome , friend! Thank you for visiting my blog! Please leave your lovely thoughts below! I would be glad to get back to you as soon as possible!