The United Nations estimate that 54% of the world population live in urban areas and more than 40 megacities are expected by 2030, compared with 18 at the beginning of the century.
The High-Level Conference on Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies- Challenges and opportunities in urban areas, will be held in Lyon, France, at Musée des Confluences.
Global connectivity is a powerful dynamic for human development however, trans-border vulnerabilities, such as infectious disease outbreaks, are becoming more significant with the deepening of globalization and the increase of world population.
The Conference will provide a forum to share experiences and address the multi-sectoral approach for effective leadership in preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies in urban areas.
It will be attended by Ministers of Health and other national government representatives; mayors and urban leaders; national and international stakeholders from the health sector and beyond, UN and international organizations and partners involved in public health, animal health, transport and tourism.
The conference responds to a World Health Assembly mandate to implement the WHO International Health Regulations (2005): draft 5 year global strategic plan to improve public health preparedness and response.
The implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs), especially in low-resource settings, depends on stronger multi-sectoral public health emergency preparedness, including in urban areas.