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date: 17 February 2025

Urban Health in Latin America and the Caribbeanlocked

Urban Health in Latin America and the Caribbeanlocked

  • Luiz Galvão, Luiz GalvãoAdjunct Professor, Georgetown University Department of International Health and Researcher, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Center for Global Health
  • Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa, Waleska Teixeira CaiaffaDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social, Federal University of Minas Gerais
  • Solimar Carnavalli RochaSolimar Carnavalli RochaObservatory for Urban Health in Belo Horizonte (OSUBH)
  • , and Bernhard LieseBernhard LieseGlobal Health Institute, Georgetown

Summary

Urbanization can enhance the quality of life in cities and promote healthy living conditions. Unfortunately, according to the World Health Organization, 24% of urban populations live in unhealthy slums, making early intervention and public policies imperative. While urban areas have the advantage of access to essential services like transportation and healthcare, inadequate planning can lead to health issues.

Rural populations also face challenges accessing safe drinking water and sanitation, leading to unequal distribution of drinking-water quality. Climate change exacerbates these issues, resulting in conflicts, social and economic instability, and adverse environmental and public health effects. Additionally, population growth and improved water access have intensified wastewater treatment problems, and waste generation remains a significant issue in Latin America. Homeless communities in urban areas are particularly vulnerable to crises like COVID-19 and climate change. Access to healthcare is crucial for urban health, but half of the population lacks this access, leading to poverty due to healthcare expenses. Promoting social equity through healthcare access is vital.

The United Nations recognizes the devastating impact of COVID-19 and calls for a transformative approach to rebuild economies that prioritize social equity and environmental sustainability. Sustainable development policies can combat poverty, hunger, climate change, and environmental degradation. The Barcelona Institute for Global Health has developed a framework that connects healthy urban development to the sustainable development goals, emphasizing intersectoral work, health equity, and data quality. However, COVID-19 has severely affected the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Research in Brazil and Latin America reveals that economic segregation and inequality contribute to higher homicide rates and lower life expectancy. Effective urban policies can improve population health, and understanding the factors that impact elderly health can lead to better planning for active aging and reducing health disparities.

Successful approaches to research and addressing urban health issues involve interdisciplinary collaboration among academia, public and private sectors, and communities. Policies that impact health, with particular attention to the social, economic, and urban determinants of health in urban areas, are essential. The aim of the authors of this article, as public health researchers, is to identify targets for large-scale policy interventions in these areas.

The Belo Horizonte Observatory for Urban Health was founded in 2002 through a process led by the local university and health services to bring together academics and public sector services as part of a broader agenda to strengthen local and national health systems. This model could be a modern approach to Urban Health and play a central role in the current global health challenges.

Subjects

  • Environmental Health
  • Global Health
  • Public Health Policy and Governance

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