The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to cover all possible aspects of public health and well-being. The agenda also includes urban development, which turns out to be crucial for many people. A few days ago, WHO master classes on ecology took place in Moscow, and Sechenov University presented its latest works in this field.

One of the key speakers was Alexey Danilov, Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Head of the Department of Nervous Diseases at Sechenov University. He talked about healthy environment and its importance for public health.

In his speech, Alexey Danilov said that the modern urban environment could trigger cardiovascular, neurological, and oncological diseases. According to recent research, medical interventions account for only about 10% of health, while 20% is due to genetics, and 70% is determined by the environment and physical activity.

‘The grey, faded, monotonous, repetitive environment — typical for many cities — contributes to a higher level of stress, antisocial behaviour, an increase in alcohol consumption, and the number of crimes’, said Alexey Danilov. ‘At the same time, according to the International Academy for Design and Health, salutogenic design — with biophilia (the need to connect with nature) as its key element — helps reduce stress and improves the psychological status, neural function, endocrine function, and immune responses. These effects are responsible for well-being and resistance to viral infections’.

According to Alexey Danilov, development of salutogenic environment is an interdisciplinary task. The salutogenic approach includes tree planting, construction of cycle paths, and erection of monuments and sculptures in cities. As a result, these actions should help reduce air pollution, thus contributing to public health.

The approaches presented at the event can be used throughout Russia to assess the impact of ecology, green areas, and physical activity on public health. The participants also discussed sustainable development in Russia and Europe.

In total, 25 regions of Russia took part in these WHO master classes. The event was organised by the City of Moscow.