By Mohammad Bin Khidzer
This short memo is based on the authors short field trips in Jogjakarta and Singapore in June and July 2025. It examines whether walking can prevent type 2 diabetes in tropical cities. Drawing on fieldwork in Singapore and Jogjakarta, the author shows how climate, infrastructure and socioeconomic inequality shape people’s ability to walk. While Singapore’s shaded walkways and transport network allow for active mobility, Jogjakarta’s heat, traffic and lack of pavements make walking difficult. The author demonstrates that in hot, humid contexts, “walking for health” depends on urban design and environment, and that for low-income diabetics facing food and medication insecurity, walking alone is not sufficient. The essay calls for diabetes-prevention strategies that integrate climate, infrastructure and inequality.
Read the full memo here.
Decolonising Global Health Archive 