Three ‘healthy” cities honoured in Paris

Paris: Today, at the annual ‘Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit’, three cities were honoured for their outstanding efforts in combating noncommunicable diseases and injuries: Córdoba in Argentina, Fortaleza in Brazil, and Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. This event, co-hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies—an organization that supports initiatives in 700 cities across 150 countries to promote healthier, longer lives—along with the World Health Organization (WHO), Vital Strategies, and the City of Paris, brought together mayors and officials from 61 cities within the Partnership for Healthy Cities network. The summit focused on addressing urgent public health challenges and exchanging effective strategies to save lives and foster healthier communities at the local level.

“Noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and injuries are responsible for more than 80% of all deaths globally, but the good news is, they are preventable,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and 108th mayor of New York City. “Cities are leading the way in implementing policies that are protecting public health and saving lives. This year’s winning cities are proving that progress is possible with strong leadership and political will, and we look forward to seeing the results of their efforts,” he added. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed US$ 3.7 billion.

The winners of the 2025 Partnership for Healthy Cities Awards were selected for their significant achievements in combating noncommunicable diseases and injuries, serving as models for other regions to follow. Each of the three awarded cities is involved in the Partnership’s Policy Accelerator, which offers training and resources for crafting effective policies and the political strategies necessary for their implementation. These cities are collaborating with the Partnership to enhance public health in various ways.

In Córdoba, Argentina, a new policy has been enacted that commits the city to foster healthy food environments in schools by banning sugary and artificially sweetened drinks, as well as ultra-processed foods, from all educational institutions by 2026. This initiative has already positively impacted 26 schools, benefiting around 15,000 of the city’s 138,000 primary school students. Fortaleza, Brazil, has introduced its first legal framework for monitoring air quality through a 2023 decree, which ensures local tracking of air pollutants to assess their effects on public health, alongside the deployment of affordable sensors to enhance data collection. This reliable information will guide city policies aimed at significantly lowering air pollution levels. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom has increased the number of outdoor smoke-free areas, including the establishment of its first smoke-free park, which spans 6.5 acres. The city has also engaged residents through community consultations and workshops to inform decision-making, developed a smoke-free toolkit and communication resources for National Health Service (NHS) facilities, and is expanding this initiative by creating a comprehensive toolkit for other organizations interested in establishing smoke-free environments.

“Cities are at the forefront of the fight against noncommunicable diseases and injuries. The progress made in Córdoba, Fortaleza, and Greater Manchester is not only improving health today but also setting a model for others to follow,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “WHO is committed to working with cities to build healthier, safer and more resilient communities for all.”

“Local leadership has emerged as a powerful force for addressing the complex challenges presented by noncommunicable diseases and injuries,” said Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet, President and CEO, Vital Strategies. “We applaud the work of city leaders around the globe in their efforts to create healthier, safer environments for their populations. Their efforts are having a significant impact on people’s lives and well-being, while also demonstrating to national governments that there is significant support for these policy solutions.”

Launched in 2017, the Partnership for Healthy Cities is a global network of 74 cities working to prevent noncommunicable diseases and injuries.  Through this network, city leaders are enacting transformative measures to improve the health of 300 million people across the globe.