Calling for responsible inclusive planning and healthy cities in Africa

Urban planning is at a turning point The COVID-19 pandemic calls for an alternative approach which focuses on creating healthier built environments This is especially true in Africa given rapid urbanization combined with skill shortages in planning and underinvestment Connecting health and planning is not new across Africa Forty-five per cent of African countries experience at least one epidemic annually, including cholera, measles and malaria This is partly related to the presence of dense informal and unplanned settlements, with minimal access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities contributing to the rapid transmission of respiratory illnesses Here, Andres et al assess the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa and examine the role of urban planning in such circumstances