WHO: Healthy housing is foundation of more resilient society

Healthy housing is the foundation of a more resilient society.

Report informs that World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this in a video address to an event titled "Azerbaijan: The Pulse of Healthy Homes," held as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

"Housing is not just a roof over our heads. It is a fundamental determinant of health. Safe and healthy homes save lives, prevent disease and support well-being throughout life. Housing is also vital for people displaced by conflicts and climate-related disasters; for them, stable shelter is essential for protection, dignity, recovery and long-term health," the Director-General said.

However, according to him, poor housing conditions deepen inequality: "Low-income communities face unsafe buildings, overcrowding, poor air quality and limited access to energy, water, heating and clean cooking facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these vulnerabilities, as overcrowding increased virus transmission, while the economic shock pushed millions of people toward homelessness and energy poverty. A healthy and dignified home is the foundation of a more resilient society. For almost 20 years, WHO has worked with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to integrate health and safety into housing policy and practice. Today, I am pleased to announce that we are strengthening our partnership with a new Memorandum of Understanding."