Urban Health Matters!

On the occasion of the World Health Day 2010 the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon issued a message in line with this year’s theme ‘Urban Health Matters’. Underlining that nowadays and for the first time ever more people live in the cities,  Mr. Ban Ki-moon underlined a parallel trend of growing poverty in urban areas and densely populated areas. The Secretary General recalled that problems such as disparity in people’s income, opportunities, living conditions and access to services cause serious health threats against the lives of the people. However, he underlined that largely the reasons responsible for these health hazards lie beyond direct control of health sectors. He called for sound policies to improve all areas of the governments and raise comprehensive awareness among all sectors of society. The full text of Mr. Ban Ki-moon’s message appears below:  

"For the first time in history, more people live in cities and towns than in rural areas.  In a parallel trend, the burden of world poverty is also shifting from sparsely populated rural areas to densely populated cities.  By mid-century, urban dwellers will count for seven out of every ten people.  Most of this explosive growth is occurring in developing countries.  Rapid, unplanned urbanization is expanding slums and informal settlements and municipal authorities are struggling to cope.

The disparity in people’s income, opportunities, living conditions and access to services is most vividly reflected by the mirror of public health.  The threats are numerous: inadequate sanitation and refuse collection; industrial and traffic pollution; infectious diseases that thrive on squalor and crowded conditions; high rates of tobacco use; physical inactivity; unhealthy diets; crime, violence and the use of harmful substances.

To a large extent these problems lie beyond the direct control of the health sector.  Improving urban health therefore requires sound policies across all areas of government and awareness among all sectors of society.  The broad family of UN agencies and programmes is involved in this effort: working to reduce air and noise pollution, traffic congestion and crime; helping to improve housing, sanitation and food and water safety.

Although the threats to health in cities are many, there is also reason for optimism.  The root causes of urban health problems are known.  So, too, are the methods for dealing with them.  On World Health Day 2010, more than 700 cities from around the world will share their success stories.  Together, these policies, interventions and best practices show how we make cities healthy places to live.

Many problems can be solved through better planning and more effective use of standards and the legislation needed to enforce them.  Actions need not be complex or costly.  Interventions with a demonstrated impact range from using urban gardens and farms to promote nutrition education and physical activity to communities working together to reduce crime and violence.  On this World Health Day, let us act to make our cities more nurturing for all.  Urban health matters!"

Why is the World Health Day Celebrated on 7 April?

World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the founding of WHO. Each year, the Organization selects a key global health issue and organizes international, regional and local events on the Day and throughout the year to highlight the selected area.

World Health Day 2010 will focus on urbanization and health. The theme was selected in recognition of the effect urbanization has on our collective health globally and for us all individually.

With the campaign 1000 cities, 1000 lives, events will be organized worldwide during the week of 7 – 11 April 2010. The global goals of the campaign are:

• 1000 cities: to open up public spaces to health, whether it be activities in parks, town hall meetings, clean-up campaigns, or closing off portions of streets to motorized vehicles;
• 1000 lives: to collect 1000 stories of urban health champions who have taken action and had a significant impact on health in their cities.

For further information about World Health Day 2010, please check the following link:

"1000 Cities, 1000 Lives - Urban Health Matters" is the theme of World Health Day, 7 April.
(WHO Photo/Chris De Bode)

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran this year celebrates the World Health Day on Sunday 11 Arpil 2010.