Category: Global Health & Policy
Published: October 31, 2025
By: Yarima.org Health Team
On World Cities Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on national and city leaders to reshape urban environments into centers of health, equity, and sustainability.
Today, over 4.4 billion people—more than half of the world’s population—live in cities, and that number is expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050. While cities can offer opportunities for progress, they also concentrate major health challenges, especially in slums and informal settlements where more than 1.1 billion people face unsafe housing, poor sanitation, and exposure to environmental risks such as floods and heat.
A New Global Guide for Urban Health
To address these challenges, WHO has launched a new framework titled “Taking a Strategic Approach to Urban Health.” This guide provides governments with practical steps to integrate health into all areas of urban planning and governance—making cities healthier, fairer, and more resilient.
“This is a moment for decision-makers at every level to act together,” said Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care. “The guide gives national and municipal leaders a framework to build fairer, healthier, and more resilient futures.”
The Urgent Need for Action
Urban health inequalities are striking. A study of 363 cities in Latin America revealed life expectancy gaps of up to 14 years for men and 8 years for women between the healthiest and least healthy cities. Around the world, city dwellers face overlapping risks—from air pollution and unsafe transport to poor housing and limited access to green spaces.
Air pollution alone kills around 7 million people every year, and nearly all city residents breathe air that fails to meet WHO’s quality guidelines. High-density living also increases the risks of infectious outbreaks such as COVID-19 and dengue, while the lack of green spaces fuels chronic diseases.
Cities as Engines of Change
Despite these challenges, cities also hold the key to transformation. By acting strategically, local leaders can make urban areas more equitable, sustainable, and economically vibrant.
Examples of this approach are already visible in Nairobi (Kenya), Suva (Fiji), Makassar (Indonesia), and Coimbra (Portugal), where communities are directly participating in urban redesign projects that promote health and inclusion.
“Cities are key to advancing public health,” said Dr. Etienne Krug, WHO Director of Health Determinants, Prevention and Promotion. “This guide offers governments a roadmap to make operational links with global priorities like climate change, transport, and digital transformation.”
Key Actions Outlined in the WHO Guide
The new WHO framework helps governments to:
- Understand how urban systems shape health and equity.
- Identify opportunities to integrate health goals across multiple sectors.
- Strengthen governance, financing, innovation, and partnerships for health.
- Develop comprehensive urban health strategies at both national and city levels.
A Call for Collective Leadership
WHO urges both national and municipal authorities to adopt this strategic approach and align health efforts with broader goals of climate resilience, sustainability, and social justice.
In addition, WHO is launching an Urban Health E-Learning Course through the WHO Academy, aimed at training leaders and professionals to work collaboratively on urban health challenges.
As WHO emphasizes, health is not just a medical issue—it’s a citywide responsibility. Every decision in housing, transport, energy, and planning affects billions of lives.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) – “Taking a Strategic Approach to Urban Health: A Guide for Decision Makers,” 2025.
Edited by: Yarima.org Health Team