WHO: Making cities healthier

WHO: Urgent steps must be taken to make cities healthier

World Health Day, 7 April 2010

MANILA, 7 April 2010 —The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that continued population growth in cities in the Western Pacific will have damaging consequences for human health, particularly for the poor, unless urgent steps are taken to tackle health risks for people who live in cities.

"Many cities in the Western Pacific have grown too fast and too randomly," said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "Millions of people already live in urban slums or near-slums where disease is a serious threat. With the projected rise in urban populations across the Region, the health risks will also rise if insufficient attention is paid to planning and implementation of healthy urban practices and infrastructure."

Rapid and unplanned urbanization increases human vulnerability to poverty, disease and natural disasters. Of all the Regions, the Western Pacific Region experiences the most natural hazards and disasters.

Full version of the press release: http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/press_releases/pr20100704.htm

ENDS

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