Given the current global economic, political and environmental challenges faced today, designing liveable cities requires a paradigm shift to prioritize planetary health and participatory policy design approaches. This case study focuses on the development of an innovative, multi -sectoral healthy cities strategy in the municipality of Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil; a rapidly growing city that houses one of the world’s largest pulp industry plants. The strategy emphasizes a holistic view of urban health, integrating principles of equity and sustainability to ensure the well-being of both residents and the environment. By aligning sustainable development goals with health outcomes, the plan seeks to mitigate the negative health and environmental impacts of industrial activities on air and water quality, while fostering economic inclusion for the city’s diverse and expanding urban population. Incorporating elements of healthy public policy and sustainability, the strategy advocates for proactive measures to enhance community health, including accessible healthcare services, green spaces, and specific initiatives promoting physical and mental well-being of the pulp industry workforce. The equity-centered design approach used to develop the strategy ensures inclusivity and participation from all segments of the population, addressing complex determinants of health and promoting community engagement. The case study from Brazil will showcase the challenges and successes encountered in developing the municipal strategy and navigating the tensions between industrial workforce development and public health. The insights gleaned from this unique context offer valuable lessons for cities globally, encouraging a reevaluation of traditional urban planning and public policy models to foster healthier, more sustainable, and equitable communities.
Dr. Paola Ardiles Gamboa is the co-founder of Bridge for Health co-operative, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Special Projects Advisor to VP People, Equity and Inclusion at Simon Fraser University, Canada. She has collaborated and led various knowledge mobilization and research initiatives related to health promotion, education, policy and social innovation. Her work focuses on building partnerships and facilitating dialogue across sectors, to foster practical and creative upstream solutions to tackle complex public health challenges and support wellbeing strategies.
Dr. Crhistinne Gonçalves trained as a dentist and researcher on urban health problems, especially infectious diseases that affect the most neglected populations such as incarcerated and indigenous populations. I coordinated the Committee Emergence of Covid during Pandemic era in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. My studies include a PhD in Social Determinants of Health, a Master in local Development – Health Cities. Nowadays, I am sub-secretariat of Health of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil and Professor of Program of Pos Graduation in Parasitic and Infectious Diseases of Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.