New Delhi [India], Experts and officials from ministries of health, social welfare and empowerment of countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region discussed measures to improve health and care services for older persons and a regional strategy on healthy ageing. . The day's meeting concluded here today, the World Health Organization said in a press release.

“Today, 12.6 percent of our region's people are aged 60 or older. By 2030, this will increase to about 14 percent, and by 2050 it will reach a staggering 23.6 percent. Managing this demographic shift presents challenges. does, yet represents an opportunity.Older persons, when equipped with good health and well-being, can play an active role in the workforce, contribute to the economy through various means, and pass on invaluable knowledge and experience to younger generations,” said Regional Director Saima Wajed. Said WHO South-East Asia.

The countries are pursuing the efforts as part of the United Nations Decade for Healthy Aging (2021–2030), which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and aims to promote longer and healthier lives. This decade focuses on tackling ageism, creating age-friendly environments, providing integrated care (ICOPE) and ensuring access to long-term care, he said.

The Regional Director said significant efforts and progress had been recorded since 2020, particularly in legislation and strategies to combat age-based discrimination.However, resource constraints remain a challenge, underscoring the need for increased commitment and investment.

“Let us learn from each other and explore collaborative strategies to accelerate the implementation of the UN Decade for Healthy Aging 2021-2030 in our region,” Wajed said.

The meeting discussed strengthening the system to provide person-centred and responsive primary health services to older persons and strengthening and sustaining the capacity of the health system to provide integrated health and care services to them.

At the meeting, experts and officials worked on an evidence-based regional strategy for healthy aging – a blueprint on which WHO and Member States in the region will collaborate in the coming years, in line with the WHO South-East Asia Regional Roadmap. for Results and Resilience (2024-2029) which was endorsed by Member States last month.Previously, WHO and Member States developed a regional framework for healthy aging (2018–2022), and a training package for health care providers on integrated care for older people.

By 2050, the region is expected to be home to 480 million older people. These numbers indicate the significant progress we have made. According to the WHO release, the regional director said, over the past three decades, we have seen an eight-year increase in life expectancy along with empowerment of women and a decline in fertility rates.