International Society for Urban Health (ISUH)

It's #UrbanOctober! Are you committed to creating a better #urban future for all? Then join us at our upcoming 20th International Conference on Urban Health #ICUH24 taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco on November 18-21! Together with hundreds of experts, researchers, advocates and leaders from around the world, we will be exploring "A Healthier Horizon: Activating #Urban #Health Strategies for a #Climate Resilient Tomorrow." Check out our exciting program including inspiring plenary sessions; dynamic workshops and panels; a special "Urban Health in Practice: Shaping the Changemakers of Tomorrow" intensive course; a unique half day excursion and many fun site visits and tours! Please note that most of our side events and tours have limite capacity, don't wait to sign up! Check out our preliminary program: icuh2024.org/agenda Discover our featured plenary speakers: https://lnkd.in/eVTd45Ch Register for the conference: icuh2024.org/registration Many thanks to our amazing local, regional and global partners for their commitment and support: World Health Organization, UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), Ministère de la Santé et de la Protection Sociale - Maroc, Université Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé - UM6SS, High Atlas Foundation, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), City of Johannesburg, Ville de Dakar, UCLG Africa, Youth For Climate Morocco, Centre on African Public Spaces, Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. We can't wait to welcome you in Marrakesh next month! #UrbanHealth #ClimateAction

🌍 Reflections from the International Conference on Urban Health (#ICUH) in Marrakech One week has passed, but the echoes from #ICUH2024 in Marrakech continue to resonate with me. This conference holds a special place in my heart, as it reminds me of my deep involvement with the organization of the 14th edition in 2017, hosted by the University of Coimbra. Seven years later, it’s heartwarming to see people still referencing the Coimbra conference—it was a defining step in my journey as an urban health researcher. In Marrakech, I had the chance to reconnect with dear friends from the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH)). Catching up with Jo Boufford, Waleska Caiaffa, and Jason Corburn (it is hard to believe it’s been six years since my time as visiting researcher at Berkeley!) felt like a time capsule. It was equally exciting to meet new faces and forge connections that I’m sure will shape future collaborations. Other highlight for me was discussing urban health initiatives in Portugal with Emanuel Valpaços, whose innovative approach to HIA in urban policy are inspiring. Sharing our motivations and ideas is already sparking new collaborations in the future! The conference offered a wealth of inspiration through plenary sessions, discussions, and workshops. Some personal favorites included: 🌟 Gehl - Making Cities for People and Novo Nordisk’s session on Foodscapes Mapping with Louise Vogel Kielgast (so lovely to meet you :)) 🌟 Systems Thinking for Healthier and Sustainable Urban Food Systems, skillfully led by Kristina Ulm 🌟 The WHO Regional Office for Europe discussion group on developing a Strategic Approach to Urban Health. I was also privileged to present our work from Universidade de Coimbra under the EC2U Alliance Virtual Institute for Good Health and Wellbeing, sharing our roadmap of 12 guidelines to integrate health into urban policymaking. This session was made more special by the contributions of wonderful women Waleska Caiaffa, Elis Borde (from the Belo Horizonte Observatory for Urban Health), and Dr Gayle Souter-Brown (New Zealand). I can’t wait for the next #ICUH in New Zealand! #UrbanHealth #ICUH2024 #climatechange #SustainableCities

Spotlight on Conference Day 1 — What an incredible start to #ICUH24 in Marrakesh! Plenary Sessions Highlights: We kicked of our conference week with our inaugural plenary on "Global Trends Shaping Equitable Futures in a Changing Climate" led and moderated by the remarkable Karabi Acharya from RWJF, our conference sponsor. Featuring speakers included: charity mwangi; Tolullah Oni; and Maria Clara Pinheiro. In this special session, experts tackled the interconnectedness of #health #equity issues in the face of #climate change. Moderator Karabi Acharya reminded us that “we can't solve one problem at a time; we need to solve multiple problems at once.” Our longtime partner Tolullah Oni then emphasized the importance of data and monitoring explaining that “we can’t change what we don’t measure”. She called for leveraging #digital health #technology for advancing health equity and her thoughts on shifting power and strengthening #community engagement also particularly resonated: "Engaging communities and #citizens in decision-making is key to creating lasting change.” She concluded with a powerful statement reminding us that “the future isn't something we wait for, it’s something we create.” Our second plenary session on "Protecting Minds, Shaping Futures: The #MentalHealth and Children's Well-Being Crisis in a Changing Climate" — moderated by our friend Dr. Leslie Rubin from Morehouse School of Medicine gathered leading experts including Robert C. Hughes; Joy Mutai; Dr. Gary Belkin; Oumnia Anfer; Samy Ahmar and Dr. Angelina Uzor MD, MPH (virtual). This session brought attention to the mental health and well-being of children amidst climate change. Samy Ahmar shared a particularly critical point about “climate anxiety being the highest in the world in the Global South.” Other Day 1 Highlights: - RWJF Special Workshop on "Trend Sensing for Health Equity" where we explored emerging trends at the intersection of urban health, equity and climate. A big thank you to Karabi Acharya for leading this session and for RWJF for their support! - Youth Roundtable on "Leading Healthier, Climate-Resilient Cities" was a dynamic session led by Tolullah Oni bringing together young leaders participants from across #Africa incuding Christelle Lahoud; Oumaima Khalil El Fanne; Jonathan Some; Goodson Shalubala; Zeina ElZein; Mainasara Waziri; Joy Mutai and more! These passionate voices shared innovative solutions to urban health and climate challenges. Sponsor & Speaker Reception at Amal: We ended the day with a truly inspiring evening at our fabulous caterers, Amal, a women’s empowerment nonprofit, known across the region for its impactful work in helping women enter the workforce as skilled chefs. Our sponsors and speakers gathered for a beautiful evening of traditional singing and dancing, as well as a delightful traditional dinner. Stay tuned for Day 2 highlights coming up, as we pave the way for a healthier, more resilient, equitable urban future!

Welcome to our special #ICUH24 Spotlight Series! We’re excited to look back on #ICUH24 with a special series highlighting key moments from the 20th International Conference on Urban Health that was just held in Marrakesh, Morocco last week. In this first highlight, we reflect our special pre-conference Intensive Course that took place on November 18 — setting the stage for an engaging week of learning and collaboration. Our heartfelt thanks to the High Atlas Foundation, in particular HAF President Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir and his entire team, for their commitment and incredible support in hosting this impactful event and for their engagement throughout the week. The full-day intensive course brought together participants to deepen their understanding of urban health challenges in the face of #climate change. The day kicked off with an introduction to #urban #health, setting a common foundation for all attendees. This was followed by deep dives into our core conference themes, expertly guided by leaders in the field including our Executive Director, Giselle Sebag; our #ACE4Eequity filmmaker Camilla Calamandrei; Dr. Leslie Rubin from Morehouse School of Medicine; our partners Francisco Obando and Nathalie Roebbel from the World Health Organization; Dr. Carlos Dora, our lontime Board member; Emeka Iloegbu from NYU School of Global Public Health; our partner Carolyn Daher from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and our longtime colleague Tolullah Oni from UrbanBetter. The day ended with a special walk led by Tolullah Oni and her dynamic group of inspiring African young leaders (Mainasara Waziri). Attendees were given the opportunity to collect data on health and climate-related features using the UrbanBetter Cityzens application. Participants observed environmental features, such as sources of air #pollution, green spaces, and #waste management systems, while others wore air pollution sensors to measure real-time air quality. This walk also emphasized the role of youth-led advocacy in shaping healthier #cities. Another deepest thank you to our wonderful partners at the High Atlas Foundation for hosting this special course. In the evening, we officially launched the conference week with a vibrant Welcome Reception where we had the honor of welcoming key figures including: Nadia Slitine, representing Ms. El Mansouri, Mayor of Marrakesh; our government partner Mr. Rachid Wahabi from the Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection; our academic partner Dr. Safwane Mouwafaq, from the International School of Public Health; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization's Director-General (virtual); Anacláudia Rossbach, UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)'s Executive Director (virtual) and many more! We are incredibly grateful for such a strong and powerful start to #ICUH24! Stay tuned for our next spotlight as we continue to highlight key moments from our unforgettable week! #UrbanHealth

We're happy to share that the deadline for abstract submissions for the 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests has been extended to 30 November 2024! Join us in Johannesburg, South Africa (18–21 March 2025), to explore how urban forests can shape resilient African cities. Submit abstracts on: 🌍 Climate-proofing cities 🌍 Equitable access & well-being 🌍 Business case for urban forests For more information and submission guidelines: https://afuf.co.za/ #AFUF2025 #JoburgSustainableLiving City of Johannesburg FAO ICLEI Tolullah Oni

Thank you, #Marrakesh, Morocco, for hosting such a remarkable event, and special gratitude to the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) for organizing the highly impactful 20th #InternationalConferenceonUrbanHealth The conference brought together a diverse range of voices from key policy influencers, medical practitioners, researchers, urban planners, architects, governance experts, and most importantly, YOUNG voices.Special acknowledgment to the organizers for ensuring youth representation in all the main plenary sessions—an approach that should inspire other conferences and summits. I am honored to have been part of the UN-HABITAT team at #ICUH2024 alongside Christelle Lahoud Nagwa Lachine, Rajae HAISSOUSS, Emel Sabir Nathalie Roebbel, and my fellow UN-Habitat Youth Advisor, Zeina ElZein. It was a privilege to contribute to the plenary session on Strengthening Health Systems Amidst Climate Change with distinguished panelists including Ann Aerts, Emilia Carrera, Glyn Richards, Julian Macrone, Elvis García, and Dr. Mamka Anyona , moderated by the exceptional Jo Ivey Boufford. My intervention centered on the vital role of youth in advancing #healthequity and strengthening #healthsystems, where I shared my personal story to inspire young people who might feel discouraged or unsure of how to make an impact. I also served as a rapporteur for the youth-led discussion on Mental Health and Climate Change, which focused on #equity, #urbanchallenges, #opportunities, and the #skills young people need to thrive amidst climate change. Heartfelt thanks to our excellent moderator, Tolullah Oni, my fellow rapporteurs Oyinkansola Babayode, MD and Babyode, and International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) ’s Giselle Sebag, MPH, LEED AP ND. Additionally, I was part of the #YoungGamechangersInitiative Roundtable with Joy Mutai , Zeina ElZein, and Hyung-Tae Kim from World Health Organization , guided and moderatored by by the phenomenal Christelle Lahoud . Connecting with other young changemakers whose actions and contributions to urban sustainability are both inspiring and transformative was a highlight of the conference. Special mention to fellow young speakers: Zeina ElZein, Goodson Shalubala, Claver Adjobi, Oumaima EL Idrissi, Mainasara Waziri, Oumaima Khalil El Fanne, Emeka Iloegbu, Aya ait el madani, Mostapha Ben Mouh, and Youssra Biare. Lastly, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the phenomenal International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) team who made our stay in #Marrakesh memorable: Shoshanna (Levine) Kasle, DrPH, Giselle Sebag, MPH, LEED AP ND , Anna Abenhaim, Ana Jayone Yarza Pérez, Jeffrey Sturchio I eagerly look forward to an even more impactful 21st #ICUH in #NewZealand!

And... it's a wrap! What a spectacular week in Marrakesh, where we just hosted our 20th annual International Conference on Urban Health, with the theme "Activating Urban Health Strategies for a Climate Resilient Tomorrow". We want to express our most sincere and profound gratitude to each and every one of you for being there with us and for making this week so incredibly enriching on so many levels. Thank you to all of our friends, colleagues, partners, speakers and participants for such powerful conversations, inspiring exchanges, beautiful connections, and so much shared wisdom and hope around our common urban future. To our extraordinary urban health community, thank you for your seamless dedication to advancing urban health worldwide and to creating a healthier, brighter, more equitable, more sustainable and more resilient urban future for all. Special thanks to: The City of Marrakesh for hosting us and in particular Mayor Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri for her support and Mrs. Nadia Slitine for participating in our event. The City of Rabat and in particular Mayor Fatiha El Moudni for her presence at our conference and her brilliant keynote speech. The Moroccan Health Ministry (Ministère de la Santé et de la Protection Sociale - Maroc) and in particular Mr. Rachid Wahabi for his presence and invaluable contributions. The International School of Public Health at the Université Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé - UM6SS and in particular Dr. Mouwafaq Safwane for his presence and his ongoing support. The High Atlas Foundation for their strong partnership and in particular Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir for his countless contributions and his inspiring dedication. The World Health Organization and UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) for their co-sponsorship and in particular Dr. Nathalie Roebbel, Francisco Obando, Hyung-Tae Kim, Christelle Lahoud, Joy Mutai, Nagwa Lachine. The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and in particular Dr Gayle Souter-Brown. The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and Dr. Cathryn Tonne, Carolyn Daher, Mònica Ubalde López for their many contributions throughout the week. UrbanBetter and in particular Dr. Tolullah Oni for her involvement and dedication, and her group of fantastic African youth leaders. Youth For Climate Morocco and in particular Oumaima Khalil El Fanne for her support and collaboration. Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. and in particular Dr. Leslie Rubin for sharing his knowledge and wisdom. The City of Casablanca and in particular Oumaima EL Idrissi for her engagement and contributions. And so, so many more! Thank you to our conference sponsor, RWJF and in particular Karabi Acharya for her trust and support as well as her active involvement throughout the week. Thank you to Professor Carlos Moreno for his time and presence with us. Stay tuned for more upcoming highlights from an incredible #ICUH24 week in Marrakesh! #UrbanHealth

And... it's a wrap! What a spectacular week in Marrakesh, where we just hosted our 20th annual International Conference on Urban Health, with the theme "Activating Urban Health Strategies for a Climate Resilient Tomorrow". We want to express our most sincere and profound gratitude to each and every one of you for being there with us and for making this week so incredibly enriching on so many levels. Thank you to all of our friends, colleagues, partners, speakers and participants for such powerful conversations, inspiring exchanges, beautiful connections, and so much shared wisdom and hope around our common urban future. To our extraordinary urban health community, thank you for your seamless dedication to advancing urban health worldwide and to creating a healthier, brighter, more equitable, more sustainable and more resilient urban future for all. Special thanks to: The City of Marrakesh for hosting us and in particular Mayor Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri for her support and Mrs. Nadia Slitine for participating in our event. The City of Rabat and in particular Mayor Fatiha El Moudni for her presence at our conference and her brilliant keynote speech. The Moroccan Health Ministry (Ministère de la Santé et de la Protection Sociale - Maroc) and in particular Mr. Rachid Wahabi for his presence and invaluable contributions. The International School of Public Health at the Université Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé - UM6SS and in particular Dr. Mouwafaq Safwane for his presence and his ongoing support. The High Atlas Foundation for their strong partnership and in particular Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir for his countless contributions and his inspiring dedication. The World Health Organization and UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) for their co-sponsorship and in particular Dr. Nathalie Roebbel, Francisco Obando, Hyung-Tae Kim, Christelle Lahoud, Joy Mutai, Nagwa Lachine. The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and in particular Dr Gayle Souter-Brown. The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and Dr. Cathryn Tonne, Carolyn Daher, Mònica Ubalde López for their many contributions throughout the week. UrbanBetter and in particular Dr. Tolullah Oni for her involvement and dedication, and her group of fantastic African youth leaders. Youth For Climate Morocco and in particular Oumaima Khalil El Fanne for her support and collaboration. Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. and in particular Dr. Leslie Rubin for sharing his knowledge and wisdom. The City of Casablanca and in particular Oumaima EL Idrissi for her engagement and contributions. And so, so many more! Thank you to our conference sponsor, RWJF and in particular Karabi Acharya for her trust and support as well as her active involvement throughout the week. Thank you to Professor Carlos Moreno for his time and presence with us. Stay tuned for more upcoming highlights from an incredible #ICUH24 week in Marrakesh! #UrbanHealth

The International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) organises the 20th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH24), Marrakesh - November 18 - 21. My keynote for the plenary session Healthy by Design: "Creating Climate-Resilient Urban Environments", on November 20, 10:00 am https://lnkd.in/enf6F6ZF

I'm extremely happy to share that I will be participating in this year’s International Conference on Urban Health as part of the UN-Habitat Urban Health team and as an urban health researcher. 🤓 For those participating, I will be presenting The Neighbourhood Health-Impact Assessment Network, a method I developed to measure the correlation between the physical environment and people's mental health. 🧠🏙️ I'm looking forward to connecting with other professionals and exchanging ideas on how we can create healthier, more inclusive urban environments. Let me know if you’ll be there too—I’d love to chat! #UrbanHealth #ICUH #Marrakech #MentalHealth #Research #ICUH24 #HealthyCities International Society for Urban Health (ISUH)