WHO Urban Health Initiative in Accra, Ghana: summary of project results

Overview

Ambient and household air pollution are a major cause of death and disease globally. This public health threat is being increased due to the rapid urbanization process and environmental degradation that characterises the 21st century and that have a higher impact in developing countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Urban Health Initiative (UHI) is implemented as a response to the World Health Assembly resolution WHA68.8 from May 2015, which requests WHO to build health sector capacity to work with other sectors, support countries to identify effective policy measures, track progress, and update the evidence for health impacts of air pollution.

WHO conducted a pilot project in the city of Accra (Ghana) to address air pollution and related health effects in cities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Initiative provides a health-based implementation framework to reduce deaths and diseases associated with air pollutants, and realize climate and other health benefits (e.g. less injuries and safe physical activity). Particular attention has been given to assessing the impacts of policies in sectors responsible for air pollution, specifically household energy, land-use, waste and transport activities.

This report includes discussions on the main results and impacts of the pilot project conducted in Accra. And it provides guidance and available tools that can be adapted to similar initiatives around the world to assess the health impacts of air pollution, promote policies to reduce it and plan healthier environments.