How Urbanism Conditions Health, according to WHO:
- Healthy urban policies can significantly reduce non-communicable diseases and improve the well-being of people
- Sustainable design and proactive development can improve equity in health by protecting urban populations from health risks and the impacts of extreme weather events.
- Health indicators can help document how citizens benefit from urban investments in infrastructure, environment, social and protection.
- A large body of scientific evidence on the health impacts of urban policies can clarify risks and inform decision making
- Vulnerable populations can receive additional protection when health risks are fully considered in urban planning
Thus,
- The "right to the city" includes the right to have access to spaces that promote social cohesion, support healthy lifestyles and provide economic benefits.
- It considers the health impacts that promote wider participation in urban decision-making by various stakeholders and members of different communities.
Source: Health as the Pulse of the New Urban Agenda
Urban planning to promote people's health must take into account:
- Planning of urban transport services
- Healthy food on the markets
- Type of energy used in cities and communities
- Level of housing construction
- Access to drinking water and waste management
- Workspace and workers' health
- Informal constructions
- The creation of green spaces
How to integrate health into urban planning, governance, finance and public dissemination?
- Developing a common vision of social cohesion and health - a commitment to leave no one behind
- Promoting commitment to healthy cities as sustainable cities - recognizing the need for actions involving all urban sectors
- Assessing - integrating health into urban policies
- Stimulating Urban Economies - healthy urban financing and sustainable development and avoiding unwanted health risks
- Promoting Urban Planning, projecting for health
- Developing Resilience to urban health, managing risk
- Promoting Participatory Action for Change - engaging communities - raising awareness
- Health indicators can help document how citizens benefit from urban investments in infrastructure, environment, social and protection.
- A large body of scientific evidence on the health impacts of urban policies can clarify risks and inform decision making
- Vulnerable populations can receive additional protection when health risks are fully considered in urban planning