The Partnership for Healthy Cities

Abstract

The Partnership for Healthy Cities is a global network of cities that is committed to reducing morbidity and mortality from noncommunicable diseases among their populations. Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies, the Partnership engages cities that are willing to take on high-impact innovative approaches to prevent and ameliorate the burden of noncommunicable diseases (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.). This chapter discusses the vision behind, the goals of, and the successes and challenges of the Partnership for Healthy Cities, with a particular focus on lessons learned that can broadly be applied to urban health.

Urbanization and the Future of Population Health

“…These issues remain relevant today; for example, infectious diseases remain a critical function for city health departments, from outbreaks of foodborne illnesses to prevention and management of infectious diseases such as Legionnaires’ and tuberculosis. However, as the epidemiological burden transitions globally from communicable to chronic diseases, the key population health questions for urban environments will increasingly focus on the role of living conditions in determining the health status of individuals and populations 6,7 …”

“…However, as the epidemiological burden transitions globally from communicable to chronic diseases, the key population health questions for urban environments will increasingly focus on the role of living conditions in determining the health status of individuals and populations. 6,7 Third, there is a growing appreciation of how intersections between the process of urbanization and broader forces for social transformation contribute to health outcomes and health gaps. For example, a core tenet of the "urban health advantage" is the improved availability of health services in cities relative to nonurban areas.…”