Geneva Health Forum 2024

Building Healthy urban environments: Calling for a Health-Centric Approach to Urban Planning

Not scheduled

15m

Geneva

Oral presentation Health and the environment, time for solutions

Description

Introduction
Urbanisation is rapidly increasing in African countries, outpacing available healthcare services and infrastructure. This leads to reduced healthcare access, inadequate sanitation, increased transmission of infectious diseases, and elevated health disparities, significantly impacting the well-being of urban dwellers. The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change-induced natural events have further highlighted the vulnerabilities of urban health. The presentation will explore the concept of 'Healthy Cities' in the African context emphasising the importance of integrating health-focused urban planning to improve socio-economic and environmental health outcomes and achieve universal healthcare.
Methodology
This presentation relies on a review of scientific literature on the link between urban planning and health outcomes, along with data from global health organisations on socio-economic health determinants. It also considers observational insights from African initiatives and theoretical frameworks to argue for the systematic inclusion of health in urban planning in developing countries.
Results and Discussions:
Healthy cities are those that keep improving their surroundings and offer more resources for their community, allowing people to harness the socio-economic benefits that cities offer and "mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential" (WHO). Key elements for a healthy city include clean air and water, safe public spaces, and efficient infrastructure.
The Healthy Cities movement began in the 80s and gained momentum in the 1990s in Africa. Despite previous implementation challenges, renewed efforts by WHO and UN-Habitat are reviving the concept. Growing evidence from African countries points to the need to address the 'triple threat' of infectious and lifestyle diseases, and urban strain from injuries and violence, which pose significant health disparities and threaten the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The discourse is still dominated by the Global North and urban planners, but there is a need to fill the data gap on health risks, outcomes, and determinants in African urban settings. This can be achieved through the involvement of health professionals and community engagement. Addressing urban health challenges also demands robust primary healthcare to manage disparities and ensure equitable service access.
Conclusions:
Urban planning plays a critical role in shaping health outcomes. Recognising the interconnectedness of urban health determinants and leveraging frameworks like Health in All Policies, cities can be transformed into health-promoting environments. Despite the challenges, evidence indicates that interventions targeting urban determinants can markedly improve health outcomes. The presentation advocates for a comprehensive health-centric urban planning approach that aligns with the planetary health paradigm, which acknowledges the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health to promote sustainable and equitable urban development.