KATHMANDU: The International Health Day is being observed throughout the world including Nepal with the slogan “1,000 cities -1,000 lives –Urban Health Matters” on Wednesday.

The theme of the International Health Day is urbanisation and health, with urbanisation being responsible for many health problems related to water and environment.

Minister for Health and Population Uma Kanta Chaudhari in his message on the occasion requested the public to make their surroundings clean for healthy living.

He also informed that the government was developing policies and programmes bearing in mind the increasing urbanization and public health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is organising the 1000 cities, 1000 lives campaign worldwide during the week of April 7-11.

The global goals of the campaign are to open up public spaces to health, whether it is activities in parks, town hall meetings, clean-up campaigns, or closing off portions of streets to motorised vehicles under the campaign of 1000 cities.

Likewise, the 1000 lives campaign includes collecting 1000 stories of urban health champions who have taken action and had a significant impact on the health in their cities.