Enlist any four measures that can be adopted to reduce impact of unplanned
urbanization and industrialization on the environment.
Answers
New Delhi: On the eve of World Health Day, the World Health Organization urges national governments to invest in pro-poor policies and strategies in order to reduce the urban equity gap. The UN health agency also launched the 1000 cities, 1000 lives campaign to celebrate urban health and urban health champions—persons who have made a difference in their cities, making them more healthy and more livable.
For the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population resides in urban areas. Rapid urbanization is more pronounced in the low- to middle-income countries of South-East Asia. About 34% of the total population of the WHO’s South-East Asia Region is urban. According to UN Habitat, over 40% of the urban population of South Asia live in slums. The urban poor suffer disproportionately from a wide range of diseases and health problems.
“Urbanization is one of the major threats to health in the twenty-first century. Closing the urban equity gap and promoting healthy cities requires urgent action, including the efforts of both rich and poor urban dwellers. To reap the potential benefits from urbanization, we must act collectively”, said Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO’s Regional Director for South-East Asia.