Nairobi has joined a new global partnership of cities supporting certain policies to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
The city will receive financial and technical support to implement policies that may include a ban on public smoking or promoting walking.
The network, known as Partnership for Healthy Cities, brings together 73 cities globally and is led by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
“Through the Partnership for Healthy Cities, local leaders around the world are helping improve public health and save lives – and today, we are glad to welcome three new members: Nairobi, New York City and Osaka,” Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and World Health Organization’s global ambassador for NCDs and injuries, said in a statement.
Bloomberg said they will support mayors and governors to implement proven, high-impact interventions to reduce NCDs and injuries – which are responsible for over 80 per cent of all deaths globally – in their communities.
He launched the initiative in 2017 in collaboration with WHO and Vital Strategies, a global health organisation.
The partnership supports cities in strengthening public health policies in several areas, including tobacco control, food policy, road safety, surveillance and overdose prevention.
“These cities and their mayors have shown they are committed to implementing policies that protect the health and safety of millions of people, and our team is looking forward to supporting their work – and helping spread it around the world,” he said.
Nairobi will receive $75,000 to implement one of 14 interventions proven to prevent NCDs and injuries.
“Prior to the funding being disbursed, cities must identify how the funding will advance a robust policy proposal that addresses NCD- or injury prevention. The funding may not be used for stand-alone projects or communications activities,” the initiative said in a statement.
These measures address tobacco control, road safety, safe and active mobility, healthy food, data surveillance, or overdose prevention.
“Effective noncommunicable disease prevention and control calls for a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach,” said Governor Johnson Sakaja.
He added: “Working with Bloomberg Philanthropies will greatly contribute to better collaboration with state and non-state actors to reduce the rising burden and incidence of NCDs and improve the quality of care for those who develop NCDs in Nairobi, Kenya.”
City staff will be provided with technical assistance, communications support, grants, workshops, and access to in-person and virtual peer-to-peer exchanges that support collaboration and sharing of lessons learned about areas of urban health and safety.
“WHO welcomes Nairobi, New York City and Osaka – three of the world’s biggest cities – to the ever-expanding partnership and commends their mayors for their commitment to building urban environments that nurture health,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“We look forward to supporting all three cities to implement evidence-based and cost-effective solutions to promote health and prevent noncommunicable disease and injuries.” “Cities have long served as drivers of improved public health,” said José Luis Castro, President and CEO, of Vital Strategies.
The African cities continuing their membership include Abidjan, Accra, Dakar, Cape town, Freetown, Kampala, Kigali, Lusaka, Kumasi, and Addis Ababa.