December 13th, 2016: Dr. Yassen Alfoteih, Assistant Professor and Chair of the School of Public Health & Health Sciences at Canadian University Dubai (CUD), has revealed the impact of urbanization on human health and the ecosystem, in a recent televised interview on United States-based, Arabic language current affairs channel, Alhurra.
Set in the context of a growth in urban living, Dr. Alfoteih discussed the health challenges associated with the environment, disease transmission and lifestyle in towns and cities. He said, “New data shows that more than 50% of the world’s population lives in an urban area. By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in towns and cities. In Arabic countries around 56% are doing the same so far.
“These numbers are critical, as the world is rapidly urbanizing, with significant changes in our living standards, lifestyles, social behavior and health, which could cause both short and long-term effects on those who are living in these cities.”
He continued, “While urban living offers many opportunities, including potential access to better health care, today’s urban environments can concentrate health risks and introduce new hazards. Health challenges particularly evident in cities relating to water and the environment are scientifically associated with disease outbreaks.”
In conclusion, Dr. Alfoteih said, “City living and its increased pressures of mass marketing, availability of unhealthy food choices, and accessibility to automation and transport have all had an effect on lifestyle, which directly affects health. We need to focus on sustainable development taking into account public health as a key factor, while we plan for modern cities in the region.”
View the full discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuDOAJAs6gI
Gallery
