GENEVA - THE World Health Organisation will launch a major campaign on Wednesday to counter a triple threat to health in fast growing cities, home to more than half the world's population.
The global campaign starting on World Health Day aims to rally 1,000 cities to 'open up public spaces to health,' by closing off portions of streets to traffic, to encourage exercise in parks and clean up campaigns.
One of the WHO officials behind the drive, Lori Sloate, said it was important to forge a global movement for action in cities, 'while there's still time because we've just passed the tipping point.'
The world's urban population passed 3.0 billion in 2007, exceeding the rural population for the first time, according to the United Nations. By 2030, 60 per cent of the world's growing population is expected to live in cities.
Cities are home to a 'triple threat' to health, Ms Sloate told AFP. 'Infectious diseases is one, particularly in places where there's lack of water and sanitation,' she explained, adding that stressful urban lifestyles fuelled by fast food, smoking and alcohol also fostered chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancers and cardiovascular problems in congested cities. The challenges are also amplified by urban poverty, with an estimated 830 million people who currently live in slums, according to the UN's Habitat agency.
The biggest megacities include Tokyo, with a population of more than 35 million, and Mumbai, New Delhi, Mexico City and Sao Paulo with more than 20 million inhabitants each. The WHO campaign is backed by a website http: 1000cities.who.int with social networking links to encourage community action. -- AFP
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