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Urban health gets a global upgrade. The WHO Academy and WHO Urban Health Unit completed their second annual training program, equipping professionals from 27 countries with tools to tackle the health challenges of rapid urbanization — from air pollution to inadequate housing. Each participant left with a concrete action plan to improve health outcomes in their own city.
Urban health gets a global upgrade
With over half the world's population living in cities — a share projected to hit 68% by 2050 — the health consequences of rapid urbanization are impossible to ignore. Poor housing, air pollution, extreme heat, and inadequate sanitation are fueling noncommunicable diseases and injuries at scale. The WHO Academy and WHO Urban Health Unit are stepping up to meet the moment.
For the second consecutive year, the two bodies ran a four-week online training program centered on the Urban Health Capacity Assessment and Response Resource Kit. Participants worked in small groups, applied the kit to real urban health challenges, and studied case studies from cities like London, Accra, and Utrecht — walking away with a draft action plan for their own communities.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: Cities are where health battles will increasingly be won or lost. By building a global network of trained practitioners who can work across sectors — housing, transport, food systems, and more — WHO is laying the groundwork for health equity to become a core pillar of urban development ahead of the 2030 SDG deadline.
