Five Cities Recognised For Public Health Achievements: Bangalore Makes The List

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Generally, public health is the science that protects and improves the health of individuals and communities. In order to accomplish this goal, we promote healthy lifestyles, research disease and injury prevention, and detect, prevent, and respond to infectious diseases.

In general, public health aims to protect the health of entire populations [1].

The inaugural Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit held in London on 15 March recognized five global cities for their achievements in preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries, as well as their achievements in public health.

A city from India has also made the list - Bangalore.

Five Cities Recognised For Public Health Achievements

In the London Summit organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization, Vital Strategies and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, mayors and officials from more than 50 major cities were brought together to discuss urgent public health issues and best practices to improve public health.

In light of the fact that the majority of the global population now lives in urban settings, it is imperative to ensure the health and well-being of urban residents. Over 80% of all deaths worldwide are caused by NCDs - including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases - and injuries [2].

Through the implementation of policies reducing exposure to risk factors, cities can transform the fight against NCDs and injuries. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues three years after its onset, public health is at risk of becoming less of a priority as best practices and proven interventions are highlighted at the Summit [3].

"Noncommunicable diseases and injuries pose the number-one threat to global public health. Mayors worldwide are increasingly uniting to confront it, and the Partnership for Healthy Cities will continue to support their urgent and lifesaving work," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mayor of New York City, and WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries.

Bangalore Makes The List At The Partnership For Healthy Cities Summit

"The five cities being recognized today demonstrate that mayors can drive powerful progress to protect the health of their citizens," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

During the Summit, five of the member cities were recognised with a 2023 Partnership for Healthy Cities Award for positively influencing the health of their populations and making sustainable and lasting strides towards NCD and injury prevention that can be replicated in other jurisdictions.

Among the five cities, Bangalore, India, made the list due to its efforts regarding tobacco control, in particular, reducing the amount of smoking in public places and improving compliance with existing smoking bans in public places [4].

The other winning cities include:

• Athens, Greece: In addition to providing access to naloxone at community-based organizations and among healthcare professionals, the city also initiated research on the causes of death among people who inject drugs in order to gain a better understanding of the overdose crisis.
• Mexico City, Mexico: By launching a bike path on a busy road that led to a 275% increase in cyclists, the city improved road safety and active mobility. By creating shared lanes for cyclists and buses separate from cars, establishing loading and unloading areas and optimizing the design and management of roads near schools.
• Montevideo, Uruguay: Establishing nutritional standards for the preparation and sale of food in government agencies, and some public universities, and developing media campaigns and educational materials.
• Vancouver, Canada: Developing an online tool that tracks population health indicators and collaborating with urban Indigenous communities to improve data management in order to make public health data more inclusive and accessible.

The Smoking Problem In India

India has 267 million tobacco users, placing it second in the world (behind China) for tobacco usage. Approximately 100 million people over the age of 15 smoke tobacco (cigarettes and bidis). Smokeless tobacco is used by approximately 200 million people over the age of 15 [5][6].

Indians primarily use smokeless tobacco, which includes khaini, gutkha, betel quid mixed with tobacco, and zarda. Smoking tobacco includes bidi, cigarettes, and hookahs.

Although India has made significant progress in reducing tobacco consumption, further reducing tobacco use remains a priority due to high rates of smoking and/or smokeless tobacco use throughout the country.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.