Workshop: Urban Health Initiative Accra:
Results and way forward 26-29 October 2021

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SCOPE AND PURPOSE

Ambient and household air pollution are a major cause of death and disease globally and Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane, black carbon and tropospheric ozone are a substantial contributor to global warming. The WHO Urban Health Initiative (UHI) is implemented in response to WHA Resolution 68.8 from May 2015, which requests WHO to build health sector capacity to work with other sectors, and support countries to identify effective interventions and track progress, while continuing to update the evidence for health impacts of air pollution.  As one of the responses to the resolution, WHO has prepared a pilot project in Accra to address air pollution and related health effects in cities in Low- and Middle Income Countries (LMIC).

The rationale of the project is to empower the health sector to realize its potential, to build on the sector’s influential position, and to demonstrate the full range of health benefits that can be achieved from implementing air pollution/SLCP reduction strategies, particularly at the city level. Interventions of the UHI rest on four pillars:

1. Developing a multidisciplinary approach and building methodologies that address the health impacts of urban policies specifically in developing countries;
2. Dedicating detailed attention to air pollution and the interplay between waste, transport and household energy sectors;
3. Fostering health competencies and engaging key stakeholders by, for example improving messages on air pollution consequences between health practitioners and their patients; and
4. Conducting health communications campaigns to raise public awareness on the connection between climate and air pollution and health, and catalysing increased local interest and engagement for action on emission reduction.

The desired impact of the project is to reduce deaths and diseases associated with air pollutants, as well as to realize climate and other health benefits (e.g. less injuries, better diets, safe physical activity), associated with policies and measures to tackle air pollution. Particular attention has been given to sectors responsible for air pollution, specifically household, waste and transport activities. In this last phase of the initiative, it is relevant to review all the analysis done for the environmental policies, in particular for air pollution and health impacts, and pave the way forward to use the initiative in other cities and contexts.[1]

Use of methods and tools for impact assessment, policy tracking, capacity building of the health sector, communication activities, reports and political discussions. Methods have been adapted, improved, tested and made available by WHO. The policy tracking work will serve as a model for tracking “urban health” policies with both conceptual and practical examples. In the second phase the challenge is to use a policy tracking framework that can be utilized in different places, particularly in other African cities. Capacity building is one of the pillars of the project with WHO developing a course for the health sector with 19 modules for clinicians and public health, and activities are planned after these series of workshops in November.

These activities will be undertaken in collaboration with all the partners that have mainly contributed to the UHI and in particular, with the University of Ghana. The workshop is planned for 26-29 October, 2021 and we review the work done during the first phase of the project. This meeting will also give the opportunity to examine in detail the impact and challenges for sectors that are responsible for air pollution such as transport and waste and also to discuss land use and green spaces questions. This discussion constitutes the finalization of the UHI in this first phase and provides information, lessons learned, advices and guidance on the next step for a second phase within Ghana and for the African Region. This meeting will be followed by a webinar on the Air Quality Guidelines on Tuesday 02 November.

Main Objective

The purpose of this meeting is to present and discuss the work developed along three years and further discuss activities (for example policy tracking, with special attention to air pollution), to be continued in the next months and year.

Specific Objectives

• To present the updated WHO Air Quality Guidelines to stakeholders
• To present and discuss the work done during the first phase of the UHI project
• To discuss experiences relevant for and from other African countries
• To examine the impact and challenges for sectors responsible for air pollution and climate pollutants such as transport, waste and land use and green spaces
• To present workshops to explore more in details the use of methods and tools that have been part of the UHI
• To discuss way forward for the second phase of UHI.

Expected Results

• WHO Updated Air Quality Guidelines disseminated to stakeholders
• Be introduced to the practice of various tools and software and their use in different contexts
• UHI Phase 1 project achievements, lessons learned shared and recommendations discussed for the way forward.

Participants

• Over 40 participants including Government Representatives, Academia and Development Partners including WHO staff and international experts have been invited for this meeting.

[1] In 2021, five reports were released by WHO on Accra, specifically on: Health and economic impacts of transport interventions in Accra, Ghana, Economic costs of air pollution in Accra, Ghana, Evidence-based strategies to reduce the burden of household air pollution in Accra, Ghana, Ambient air pollution and health in Accra, Ghana, Waste Solid Waste Management and Health in Accra, Ghana.

Timelines

Time	Activity	Responsible
26-29 October 2021	UHI Workshop	WHO/HQ, WCO and UGL
02 November 2021	Launch of the WHO Air Quality Guidelines	EPA, WHO/HQ, AMA, UGL

 

 AGENDA

26 October 2021:

Accra time	Plenary session / Venue: Accra City Hall, Accra Metropolitan Assembly
8.45	Log in for virtual participants/registration for in person participants
9.00	Opening remarks [40 minutes] Speakers: Naoko YAMAMOTO: (WHO-HQ Assistant Director General)Elizabeth SACKEY (Mayor of Accra) Felix ASANTE (Pro Vice Chancellor Research of University of Ghana) Francis Chisaka KASOLO (WHO Representative to Ghana) Guy MBAYO (WHO-AFRO) Anthony ADOFO OFOSU (Deputy Director General of Ghana Health Service) Eric ASUMAN (Ag. Director-General – Ghana Meteorological Agency) Dan WESTERWELT (US Embassy in Ghana) Maria NEIRA (Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health – WHO-HQ)
09:40	The Urban Health Initiative work: an overview [60 minutes] Themes:Discussion of the Results for Accra (60 minutes)Presenters: 1.      Pier MUDU (WHO-HQ) [10 minutes] 2.      Gordon DAKUU (former technical officer for UHI WHO Accra office) [10 minutes] 3.      Emmanuel APPOH (Ghana -EPA) [10 minutes] 4.      Carl OSEI (Ghana Health Service) [10 minutes] 5.      Alexander BAKLANOV (WMO) [10 minutes] 6.      Sandra CAVALIERI (CCAC) [10 minutes]
10:40	Break (10 minutes)
10:50	The UHI model process (40 minutes) Themes: Using evidence and engaging actors Presenters:1.      Thiago HERICK DE SA (WHO-HQ) [10 minutes]2.      Desmond APPIAH (C40/AMA) [10 minutes] 3.      Samuel AGYEI-MENSAH (University of Ghana) [10 minutes] Q&A [10 minutes]
11:30	The importance of urban health for African countries (40 minutes) 1.      Jacques NSENGIYUMVA (Rwanda Environment Management Authority) 2.       Isambi MBALAWATA and Paterne GAHUNGU (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Rwanda) 3.      Edmund MABHUYE (University of Dares Salaam, Tanzania) 4.      Kevin AGBO (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) 5.      Rajen NAIDOO (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
12:10	Q&A and open discussion [20 minutes] Discussants: All panelists and the audience
12:30	The way forward Facilitation by WHO-HQ / AFRO [20 minutes]
12:45	End of day 1

 

27 October 2021:

Accra time	Technical session I – Urbanization, air pollution and health in Accra / Venue: Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana[1]
09:00	Log in for virtual participants/registration for in person participants
09:15	The Urbanization of Accra: air pollution and climate change [95 minutes] Themes:The framework of Accra environmental policiesPresenter: Desmond APPIAH (C40/AMA) [5 minutes] Sarah TERRY (US-EPA) [5 minutes]   Health impacts related to different sectors Exploring Ambient and household air pollution policies in detail – Emmanuel APPOH (EPA Ghana) [15 minutes]   Climate change modeling challenges for Ghana: Chris MALLEY (Stockholm Environment Institute – University of York) [10 minutes]   Rainfall and temperature variability in Accra and Tamale: Health Implications – Samuel AGYEI-MENSAH, Jacob DOKU TETTEH (University of Ghana), Simon MOULD (Imperial College), George OWUSU, Ayagah BAWAH (University of Ghana) [15 minutes]   Impact of extreme weather conditions on health care provision in urban Ghana – Samuel Nii ARDEY CODJOE (University of Ghana) [15 minutes] Waste Management Policies – Martin OTENG ABABIO (University of Ghana)   Children Outdoor Play Spaces in Greater Accra Metropolitan Area: Policy Constraints and Challenges – Dina ADJEI BOADI, George OWUSU and Samuel AGYEI-MENSAH (University of Ghana) [15 minutes]   Discussant Edmund MABHUYE (University of Dares Salaam, Tanzania)
10:50	Break (10 minutes)
11:00	Session on tracking air pollution exposure and policies in Accra [60 minutes] Themes: Examples of analysisAir pollution in Abokobi: a case study – Reginald QUANSAH (University of Ghana) [15 minutes]  Urban green spaces and health benefits among residents of Accra, ongoing activities – Kofi AMEGAH (University of Cape Coast) [15 minutes]   Gender perspectives on Air Pollution in Ghana – Charlotte WRIGLEY-ASANTE (University of Ghana) [15 minutes]   Discussant (15 minutes) Chris GORDON (University of Ghana)
12:00	Summary session Q&A and open discussion [30 minutes]Discussants: All panelists and the audience  Moderator: Raphael ARKU (University of Massachusetts, USA)
12:30	Lunch break
14:00	WORKSHOPS WITH EXPERTS AND STUDENTS ON METHODS AND THE USE OF TOOLS ·         Transport (Joseph SPADARO (Spadaro Environmental Research Consultants, USA) [60 minutes] ·         Household air pollution (Rufus EDWARDS / Univ. of California Irvine) [60 minutes]
16:00	END OF WORKSHOPS

 

28 October 2021:

Accra time	Technical session II – Methods and tools / Venue: Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana[2]
8.45	Log in for virtual participants/registration for in person participants
9.00	Introduction [15 minutes]
09:15	Session on how to track urban environmental policies related to air pollution I [60 minutes] Themes:Introduction to WHO tools for health impact assessment of policies organized by WHO-HQEstimating the health impacts of air pollution (AirQ+) – Pier MUDU [20 minutes] Health Economic Assessment Tool for walking and cycling – Thiago HERICK DE SA (HEAT) [20 minutes] Achieving health benefits from carbon reductions (CarbonH) Joe SPADARO [20 minutes] The case of waste (SWEET tool) – Betty AKUA NARTEY [20 minutes] The case of green spaces and the use of GIS – Anika WEINMANN (GreenUr) [20 minutes]
11:15	Break [15 minutes]
11:30	Q&A and open discussion [30 minutes] Discussants: All panelists and the audience
12:30	Lunch break
14:00	WORKSHOPS WITH EXPERTS AND STUDENTS ON METHODS AND TOOLS ·         AirQ+ (Pier MUDU / WHO-HQ) [30 minutes] ·         Modelling Solid Waste management data: the SWEET tool (Betty AKUA NARTEY  / University of Ghana and Gina KANHAI / Karl-Franzens University of Graz, Austria) [30 minutes] ·         GIS, land use and green spaces / GreenUr (Jacob DOKU TETTEH / UG and David ROJAS-RUEDA University of Colorado) [30 minutes] ·         The economic costs of air pollution (Andreia SANTOS / LSHTM) [30 minutes]
16:30	END OF WORKSHOPS

 

29 October 2021:

Accra time	Technical session III – Policy tracking / Venue: Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana
08:45	Log in for virtual participants/registration for in person participants
09:00	Introduction [15 minutes] Carl OSEI (Ghana Health Service)/Desmond APPIAH (C40/AMA) [15 minutes]
09:15	Session on tracking urban environmental policies related to air pollution in Accra: community and media engagement [90 minutes] Joana ANSONG (WHO Country Office in Ghana) Abraham Thiga MWAURA (WHO-HQ) Experts and stakeholders invited
10:45	Break (15 minutes)
11:00	Media tracking and community engagement: methods and analysis [60 minutes] Themes: Examples of analysis – The Role of the Media to track Air Pollution policies (Kathmandu and Accra)Kedar RIJAL (Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal) [15 minutes]Samuel AGYEI-MENSAH (University of Ghana) [15 minutes]   Discussant George OWUSU (University of Ghana)
11:45	Summary session Introduction Pier MUDU (WHO-HQ) (5 minutes)Discussants: Emmanuel APPOH (Ghana-EPA) Kevin AGBO (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) Rajen NAIDOO (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) Samuel AGYEI-MENSAH (University of Ghana)   Moderator: Carlos DORA (ISUH) and Edith CLARKE (formerly with Ghana Health Service)
12:45	Final remarks Maria Neira (Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health – WHO-HQ) END OF DAY 4

 

02 November 2021:

Accra time	Post-meeting event / Venue:  WHO Accra Office
10:00-11:15	WHO’s Air Quality Guidelines (75 minutes) Emmanuel APPOH (EPA Ghana)WHO-EUROWHO-HQ WHO-AFRO

 

The zoom link for the meetings will be the same for the four days and requires registration. Register in advance for this meeting:

https://wacren.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5ApcuCqqDgtEtNfJaHrLkJW68R8Xt-xbUiC

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

[1] This session will have a /follow-up with students and interested stake-holders in the afternoon on dedicated methods or tools

[2] This session will have a follow-up with students and interested stake-holders in the afternoon on dedicated methods or tools. Participants should bring their laptops.