Blessing Mberu

TL;DR: Why slums are unhealthy places with especially high risks of infection and injury is discussed and it is shown that children are especially vulnerable, and that the combination of malnutrition and recurrent diarrhoea leads to stunted growth and longer-term effects on cognitive development.

TL;DR: A set of practice and policy suggestions that aim to dampen the spread of COVID-19 based on the latest available science, improve the likelihood of medical care for the urban poor whether or not they get infected, and provide economic, social, and physical improvements and protections to the urbanpoor that can improve their long-term well-being are offered.

TL;DR: The mapping of global trends in population growth from 2005-10 shows four distinct patterns: most of the poorest countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are characterised by rapid growth of more than 2% per year, while moderate annual growth is concentrated in large countries, such as India and Indonesia, and across north Africa and western Latin America.

TL;DR: Slum residents’ ability to seek healthcare for non-COVID-19 conditions has been reduced during lockdowns and clear communication is needed about what is available and whether infection control is in place to encourage healthcare seeking.

TL;DR: It is argued that, in all low-income and-middle-income countries, census tracts should henceforth be designated slum or non-slum both to inform local policy and as the basis for research surveys that build on censuses.