WHY URBAN HEALTH MATTERS World Health Day 2010 Urban Health Matters

Virtually all population growth will be in urban areas over the next 30 years. Global poverty is concentrating in cities. Urbanization can have positive and negative impacts on health. Action is needed now to ensure cities are safe and healthy. Urbanization and health

This year... 1 billion people will wake up in an urban slum. 60% of UB population live in periurban slums 170 million urban residents will not have access to a latrine. 60% of UB ger population have unhygienic latrine Nearly 1.2 million people will die from urban air pollution.

Slums are often in regions with fewer resources Urban Slum Incidence, 2001

Urban settings and health Cities confronted by a triple threat: infectious diseases exacerbated by poor living conditions; noncommunicable diseases and conditions fueled by tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol; and injuries, road accidents, violence and crime.

Housing and living conditions Inadequate, overcrowded or deteriorating housing increases the health risks from environmental hazards, violence and crime, and is associated with injuries, respiratory problems, infectious diseases, and mental health problems.

Impacts of access on urban diet Insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables by urban residents reported by half of the world's countries (World Health Survey, 2003). Urban poor in the developed and developing world often rely on street food, fast food, processed and cheap food. This contributes to vitamin/mineral deficiencies, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and dental problems.

Climate change Cities contribute to more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. Cities account for 75% of energy consumption and similar portion of all wastes. City dwellers are especially vulnerable to consequences of climate change – heat waves, increasing levels of air pollution, rising sea levels in coastal areas.

World Health Day 2010 – calls to action