The campaign, engaging 1,000 cities across the world in a set of activities, will encourage cities to become healthier to help mitigate the health risks associated with rapid urbanization.

According to WHO, events will be organized in these cities to “open up public spaces to health”, by closing off portions of streets to traffic, to encourage exercise in parks and clean up campaigns.

Lori Sloate, a WHO official, was quoted by AFP as saying that the health risks associated with living in an urban environment have “triple threat” due to high rates of infectious diseases, chronic disease and an increased concentration of violence and crime in cities.

In a press statement released ahead of World Health Day, WHO official Samlee Pliangbangchang said, “The urbanization sets influences on heath outcomes, both positively and negatively. In terms of health, urbanization presents challenges as well as opportunities.”

Pliangbangchang said that improved transportation, infrastructure and greener technologies can enhance urban quality of life, including fewer respiratory ailments and accidents and better health for all.

According to the United Nations, more than half of the world’s population resides in urban areas for the first time in history. It is estimated that by 2030, 60 percent of the world’s growing population will be living in cities. 

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-04/06/c_13239758.htm