WASHINGTON, Mayors from the Caribbean are expected to join their global partnerships in London on March 15 for the first-ever “healthy cities” summit, where they will discuss strategies to combat the global burden arising from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the increasing toll on urban health systems caused by injuries.
NCDs, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and injuries arising from varied causes such as street violence, car crashes, and falls, are responsible for 80 percent of all deaths globally.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said most of the world’s population is now living in urban settings. The United Nations has predicted that by 2050, around 2.5 billion more people will live in cities.
It said cities are, therefore, uniquely positioned to implement policies to reduce exposure to risk factors significantly.
In a statement announcing the event in London, the WHO said that the summit would highlight best practices that are helping to save lives and creating healthier, more vibrant cities.
“Human health can flourish or perish in cities,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“Through the Partnership for Healthy Cities, WHO and partners are working with mayors to create programs and policies that place health at the center of urban design, such as safe streets that promote active mobility, local sources of fresh and healthy food, and smoke-free spaces.
“These are vital for building cities that foster good health and well-being by fighting noncommunicable diseases like heart and respiratory diseases, cancer, and diabetes.”
The Partnership for Healthy Cities was founded in 2017 and is a global network of more than 70 major urban areas.
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with the WHO and Vital Strategies, it enables cities worldwide to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to prevent NCDs and injuries.
“Noncommunicable diseases and injuries are leading causes of death around the world, but they are preventable, and the Partnership for Healthy Cities is tackling them with the kind of urgency we need more of,” said Michael Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries.
Bloomberg, who is also the Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and a three-time Mayor of New York City, added that “city leaders are the first line of defense in protecting public health, and our network’s first-ever summit is an opportunity for even more partners to join the fight, adopt effective interventions,
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