Urban Health
Half of the world’s population lives in cities. This proportion is growing, especially in the Philippines and Asia. One billion people languish in informal settlements and slums, and their number is also expected to increase, doubling by 2030.
In the Philippines, about 60% of the total population lives in urban settings, and about 28% live in squatter and slum dwellings.
Urbanization can be the engine for progress of cities and provide great opportunities for individuals and families to prosper. However, urbanization can bring many difficult health challenges. Rapid, unplanned urbanization, when not managed properly, can give rise to urban poverty, growth of slums, health problems and widening inequities.
