Sister Cities Network for Sustainable Development

Health

The Role of Health in Sustainable Development

Improved health services are important for achieving sustainable development. In many parts of the world, current patterns of growth have left a divide between the people who can afford health care and those who cannot. Even in developed countries, disparities in access to affordable health care exist, often in inner cities and rural communities. Many communities struggle with health problems owing to a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation, pollution, exposure to industrial and agricultural by-products, climate change and the uncontrolled spread of infectious diseases. The global HIV/AIDS pandemic exemplifies the need to improve health services provisions across the world.

The need for improved health services is not limited to less developed areas, and can relate to issues such as nutrition, child survival and population growth. While improving the health of all citizens is no small undertaking, it is one that can directly give rise to a more industrious and successful society in the future.

Specific issues members of the Sister Cities Network for Sustainable Development may focus on include:

"Promoting local action for global issues"