Basel – Urbanisation affects many areas of human life, including health, with certain illnesses more prevalent in cities. Now more people are moving to cities, a strategy to deal with the problem is needed, says Ann Aerts, head of the Novartis Foundation.
Living in cities can take a toll on human health in many different ways, explained Ann Aerts in an article for the “Huffington Post”. The head of the Novartis Foundation mentioned examples including air pollution, commuting and working hours, which leave no time to prepare healthy food.
One disease that can be easily managed but is out of control in many cities is high blood pressure. The question, according to Aerts, is how we can prevent the urbanisation boom from becoming a health crisis.
It will be important to develop strategies and involve lots of interest groups, said Aerts, adding that only in this way can a multidisciplinary approach be found. Meanwhile, urban planners, non-governmental organisations, governments and companies must all work together.
Aerts highlighted the example of a Novartis Foundation initiative called “Better Hearts Better Cities”, which has already launched in Mongolia, Senegal and Brazil. The foundation worked with companies and city governments to develop a programme focused on healthy lifestyles and nutrition, transport systems, working conditions and air pollution.
The initiative targets primarily low-income urban areas. It is most advanced in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, where cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death.
