Owning Our Urban Future: Enabling Healthy Cities in Eastern Africa

Mutabingwa, Theonest K.

Owning Our Urban Future: Enabling Healthy Cities in Eastern Africa

dc.contributor.author	Mutabingwa, Theonest K.
dc.date.accessioned	2022-04-08T08:03:01Z
dc.date.available	2022-04-08T08:03:01Z
dc.date.issued	2018
dc.description.abstract	Urban health refers to the wellbeing and health of people who live in urban areas. If we take this straightforward definition, then urban health will clearly be of growing concern to decisionmakers across Africa in the decades to come. Our continent is urbanizing—whether that will help or harm us in the longterm remains a topic for debate, but the facts are undeniable. This important and timely report, however, goes far beyond the simple above definition of urban health. By digging into the environmental, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual determinants of health in urban areas, this report points to the causal linkages between what we build or legislate today, and the health of populations tomorrow. The rapid growth of cities in the eastern African region presents policymakers with a ticking time bomb situation—the impact of decisions taken today will not be fully seen for years to come. But if they are not taken thoughtfully now, then the outcomes can be catastrophic tomorrow. Urban health, ultimately, is about trade-offs. Cities present immense opportunities for prosperity and for better service delivery. But they also present immense challenges for better health, as today’s cities and also those of tomorrow face the triple threat of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and violence and injuries. As this report so accurately articulates, the fundamental challenges to improving the health outcomes of growing urban populations comes down to governance. How can we effectively coordinate road construction, for instance, while considering the economic needs of businesses, the safety of communities, and the future mental health of unborn citizens? I am confident that the recommendations presented in this report lay down a coherent roadmap to move us in that direction. Science Academies are ideally positioned to undertake this crucial and forwardlooking work for the region. As institutions representing the most respected and accomplished scientists and scholars from their respective countries, the Academies can grapple with many of the questions that policymakers will not face for years to come. Additionally, as neutral and independent institutions the Academies can stand above the political fray and issue advice that is based simply on the available body of evidence before them. The Academies, then, vi represent the considered views of our elders—and decisionmakers would be wise to heed their advice. Finally, I would like to commend the eastern African Science Academies and their partners for demonstrating exactly the type of cross-border and crossdisciplinary collaboration that will be necessary for our nations to tackle the major urban health challenges before us. Such collaboration is neither simple nor straightforward. But it is essential if we are to truly Own Our Urban Future.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	UNAS. (2018). Owning Our Urban Future: Enabling Healthy Cities in Eastern Africa. Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda National Academy of Sciences.	en_US
dc.identifier.other	https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332672122
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/974
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	The Uganda National Academy of Sciences.	en_US
dc.subject	Urban Future	en_US
dc.subject	Healthy Cities	en_US
dc.subject	Eastern Africa	en_US
dc.title	Owning Our Urban Future: Enabling Healthy Cities in Eastern Africa	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US