The Covid-19 pandemic particularly revealed the critical links between health, equity and poverty, prompting the City to enhance its capacity to monitor and improve urban health over time.
Drawing inspiration from its participation in the Partnership for Healthy Cities, Cape Town is leveraging global networks and proven interventions to protect its population.
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The Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organisation and Vital Strategies, brings together 73 cities worldwide to collaborate on preventing preventable deaths and injuries.
With more than 150 delegates gathered in Cape Town for the partnership’s annual summit, the city is positioned as a co-host for the initiative.
As the majority of the world’s population resides in urban areas, cities play a pivotal role in combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and reducing preventable deaths.
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Cape Town’s Urban Health Programme prioritises socio-economic determining factors of health specific to the city, providing insights for all departments to address these determinants through infrastructure planning, service provision and job creation.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Councillor Patricia Van der Ross emphasised the importance of the programme in shaping the city’s future.
‘Cape Town has a high burden of non-communicable diseases and preventable deaths. This programme will provide crucial information to guide future strategies. As metropolitan areas continue to grow, it’s imperative that our planning prioritises public health,’ said Councillor Van der Ross.
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