2024 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit
The 2024 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit took place in Cape Town, South Africa, March 5-8
Overview
Taking place in Cape Town, South Africa 5-8 March 2024, the Summit convened public health leaders from more than 50 cities across the globe to discuss how to individually and collectively strengthen the response to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis joined the event for a conversation on leadership and progress in Cape Town to improve public health.
Noncommunicable diseases – including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases – and injuries are responsible for over 80% of all deaths globally. With the majority of the world’s population now living in urban settings, cities and their leaders are uniquely positioned to transform the fight against NCDs and injuries and reduce preventable deaths by implementing policies that are proven to prevent exposure to risk factors.
The Summit is hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, World Health Organization, Vital Strategies, and the City of Cape Town.
Cities play an important role in reducing noncommunicable diseases and preventing injuries worldwide. From road safety to tobacco control, learn more about how three Partnership for Healthy Cities – Accra, Córdoba, and Amman - have implemented effective public health policies to save and improve the lives of their residents.
News
Mayor Sala Commits to a Healthier, Safer Milan by Joining Global Network of Cities (press release)
Cape Town aims for health equity through Urban Health Programme (press release)
From pandemics to pedestrian crossings: A city’s work is never done (Op-ed by Dr Jeremy James Farrar, Chief Scientist, World Health Organization)
Images
Photographs of the Summit are available on flickr, credit Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Representatives from more than 50 cities joined the second annual event.
Gallery: Explore the work
From training market vendors in Freetown, Sierra Leone to rolling out a new project aimed at strengthening air quality monitoring in Kathmandu, Nepal, click through the gallery to read more about the projects urban leaders will be discussing at the event.
For a full overview of Our Cities' Work, see here.
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1 of 7 Through the “Salt Breaks Hearts” project in Freetown – where stroke rates are on the rise – nurses and nutritionists train market vendors on the dangers of excess salt and they in turn share tips with their shoppers, including how to cook traditional dishes without using salt-filled seasoning packets. -
2 of 7 When the city set out to reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke through extensive mass market campaigns and enforcement measures, smoking in public places decreased 27% between 2017 and 2021 in Bengaluru. Next up: Restricting the use of hookahs in restaurants and cafes. -
3 of 7 Amid a worrying trend of children consuming products that have no nutritional value – including beverages so high in sugar that they raise the risk of diabetes and other NCDs – the Municipality of the City of Córdoba is reducing access to these products in local schools and installing a fleet of water dispensers through a campaign called “Córdoba Chooses Water.” -
4 of 7 Residents of Accra often need to cross multiple-lane highways just to do their shopping, an everyday activity made dangerous by speeding cars. In an effort to reduce traffic fatalities, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly is widening traffic islands, timing traffic lights and slowing speeds – a strategy that led to a 22% drop in road crashes in 2022 alone. -
5 of 7 Hopes for bike-friendly cities got a boost during the pandemic, when residents needed alternatives to crowded public transportation. The Municipality of Santiago de Cali learned one of the main obstacles to public participation was broken bikes and hired “Bicycle Doctors” to fix them for free. -
6 of 7 Air pollution in Nepal poses a serious public health risk. Kathmandu Metropolitan City is installing air quality sensors in key locations with the hope that reliable and consistent data will provide the city with a better understanding of the challenges and potential solutions. -
7 of 7 The City of Athens is urging national policy change that would allow for increased local availability of naloxone, a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Pictured: During the pandemic, teams were dispatched to deliver vital supplies to people who use drugs or are without stable housing.
The global Partnership for Healthy Cities is helping local leaders seize opportunities and implement the most effective public health strategies. Across the world, bold policies and political courage are making important victories in public health possible, and this annual summit is a showcase for the growing number of cities working to save and improve lives.
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