WHO: Recognise old people

A SIGNIFICANT strain will be placed on Papua New Guinea’s health systems by 2015 when there will be around 400,000 people aged over 60 in the country.
William Adu-Krow, the World Health Organisation’s representative in Papua New Guinea, said in a statement health and other non-health sectors in the country must first recognise the contributions of older people and have systems in place to support them in their efforts to continue contributing to society.
“Let us work together to promote healthy and active ageing in PNG,” Adu-Krow said.
He said WHO would identify strategies that could enhance existing efforts to make health services more accessible for older people.
Marking World Health Day last week, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, Shin Young-soo, said older people would soon outnumber children in the world.
There will be more people aged 60 and older than those under the age of 14 by 2050.
 “This demographic trend is extraordinary. It is happening fast, and many of the most rapid and dramatic changes will be in developing countries,” Shin said.
He said the rapid demographic transition would pose many challenges for health systems, governments, individuals and communities.
He said people should pause to celebrate the growing lifespan of the world’s people.
“We should stress the importance of healthy old age, do more to prepare health and social systems for the coming demographic reality and recognise and respect the role of the older people in society because they are a valuable resource,” Shin said.
He and Adu-Krow emphasised the need to dispel negative and inaccurate stereotypes of older people as weak, forgetful or incapable.
Such labels discouraged them from participating in social, political, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic life, despite the many skills and experiences that they had to offer.