2024 policy wins: 5 cities transforming public health

Bengaluru, India was pivotal in the adoption of a comprehensive state-wide hookah ban by Government of Karnataka. The ban prohibits the sale and consumption of all forms of hookah—both tobacco and flavored—in public places such as bars, lounges, cafes and hookah parlors. The policy win is a culmination of advocacy activities and collaborative efforts between key stakeholders at the local and state government level, including the city’s Smoke Free Bengaluru initiative.

Lusaka adopted a “Cycling and Pedestrian Safety Policy” mandating that all new roads in the Zambian capital include safe bike lanes and pedestrian routes. Mayor Chilando Chitangala (pictured above, center) has put the weight of her office behind these citywide improvements.

Melbourne’s newly-adopted “Food City 2024-34” policy is set to transform the city’s urban food environments, laying out a plan to increase access to healthier, safer and more affordable food for Melbournians over the next decade. Initial implementation includes the introduction of healthy food standards in council-owned facilities, events, contracts, programs and services, reshaping the types of food served and sold throughout the city.

Quezon City adopted a new calorie-labeling ordinance with strong backing from Mayor Joy Belmonte. The measure, a first for a Southeast Asian city, will require restaurants, fast food chains and other food establishments to publish the number of calories in food items on their menus. The policy will take effect in three stages over the course of three years.

There’s no disputing the benefits of NCD and injury prevention policies of this kind to the millions of residents of these cities; 2024’s five-city total is a record for Partnership cities passing policies in one calendar year. These cities are helping their residents stay healthy and setting an example for what other cities can achieve through the network.

This feature was published by Vital Strategies on Dec. 19, 2024.