URBAN HEALTH

Learning objectives

1.Metropolitan city

2.Urbanization

3.Urban health issues

4.Planing and monitoring process of urban health issues

LECTURE OUTLINE

URBANIZATION

The process of people moving to cities or other densely settled areas.

METROPOLITAN

Metropolitan area is defined as a “large concentration of population, usually an area of 100,000 or more people with an important city at its core”

Urban Health

Urban Health means putting the needs of people and communities at the heart of the urban planning process to ensure better accessto urbanservices

What are Urban Health issues?

Environmental Health

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene

Urban Transport

Urban Solid Waste Management

Housing

Climate Change & Global Warming

Urban Crime & Violence

HIV/AIDS in Urban Areas

Providing Health Services in Urban Areas

Vulnerable Urban Populations

Planning & Monitoring for Health Outcomes

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Environmental health is of relevance to urban teams because the quality and the management of the:

Utility services

Housing quality

Road safety,

Waste/water management

WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE

Adequate water and sanitation services are an essential ingredient to support good health in urban areas.

SANITATION

Sanitation defined as sound management of human excreta

Positive hygiene is defined as the individual and household behavior -- e.g., hand washing with soap or other agent, use of sanitation facilities, safe storage of water --safe management of human excreta.

URBAN TRANSPORT

The transport sector plays an enormous role in urban health, which is currently the 10th leading cause of death in low- and middle-income countries.

Sub-themes may include: Road Safety

Urban Solid Waste Management

About 80% of health care waste can be disposed of through regular municipal waste methods, but the remaining 20% requires special handling.

Municipal solid waste is a significant source of methane emissions, a greenhouse gas

Housing

In low- and middle-income countries poor household fuels for cooking heating & lighting are the source of lower respiratory infections & other contagious diseases

According to WHO, the earth's warming climate is estimated to contribute to more than 150,000 deaths and 5,000,000 illnesses each year, a figure that could double by 2030. The effects are severest in the Third World.

Urban Crime & Violence

Crime and violence has direct health impacts on those who are hurt or killed by violent acts

 It has broader impacts on the community- affecting the ability of individuals & household to access services and employment

HIV/AIDS in Urban Areas

As more people are infected with HIV/AIDS,

A city will see decreases in labor productivity

Increased demand for services

Lower capacity of users to pay for services

Increased household vulnerability

Increased numbers of absolute poor

Vulnerable Urban Populations

Urban living that can be particularly difficult for:

Vulnerable populations including street children,

Unemployed youth

Elderly poor migrants

Disabled persons and pavement dwellers

PLANNING & MONITORING FOR HEALTH OUTCOMES

Good urban health means maintaining healthy environments and providing adequate health services for their populations. This requires that cities:

Integrate health objectives into urban planning

Measure their progress towards achieving these objectives.

Providing Health Services in Urban Areas