Every year 1st October is celebrated as the International Day of Older Persons, as declared by United Nations, to recognize, enable and expand the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies at large and to raise awareness towards issues of ageing.
Theme: The theme for this year was, “Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?”.
- Union Helath Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan spoke of the National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) which is aimed to deliver comprehensive, affordable and quality geriatric care services at primary and secondary level.
- On 1st October, 2020 ‘Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030)’ was also launched.
- Following the 146th WHO Executive Board’s recommendation made in February 2020 , the 73rd World Health Assembly had endorsed the proposal for a Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030) through written silence procedures.
- It is an opportunity to bring together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector for ten years of concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.
- According to the WHO, Healthy Ageing is the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age. Functional ability is about having the capabilities that enable all people to be and do what they have reason to value.
