For better cities, the World Health Organisation has called on to tackle the drivers of NCDs such as tobacco use, poor diet, lack of exercise and air pollution, and also to improve road safety.
The road called ‘The Power of Cities: Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases and Road Traffic Injuries’ has asked the city administrators and city planners to take effective steps to better life of the city people.
WHO global ambassador for NCDs and injuries Michael R Bloomberg said that millions of life can be saved by replicating the most effective measures on a global scale. He also made it clear that efforts are on to create awareness among policy makers and city leaders to create a healthy city.
The report has been prepared by analysing 19 case studies of which 15 are from developing countries. It is in developing countries that 85 per cent of premature adult deaths through NCDs and over 90 per cent of road deaths were recorded. It has been said that over 90 per cent of urban growth will be in low or middle income countries. Seven of the ten largest cities are in developing countries.
NCDs kill about 41 million people the world over annually. Similarly, the lives lost in road accidents come to around 1.3 million annually.
WHO says that national as well as city leaders should work together for creating a better life for the cities.
TEN INTERVENTIONS THAT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION CALLS FOR
Monitoring NCD Risk Factors
Create a Smoke Free City
Ban Tobacco Advertisement
Lowering Consumption of Sugar Sweetened Beverages
Lowering Salt Consumption
Creating Bikeable, Walakable Streets
Cleaner Air
Reduce Drunk Driving
Speed Management
Increase Seat Belt and Helmet Use
