By Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
Fulfilling the Promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations
However, the opportunities that arise from increasing longevity depend strongly on the health and well-being of older populations. Healthy ageing needs to be fostered by creating integrated and responsive primary health care systems and services; ensuring access to long-term care for older people who need it; changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing; and cultivating age-friendly environments. If these actions are underpinned by activities to address socioeconomic inequities, then they can improve the health and well-being of current and future generations.
Age is often used to categorize and divide people in ways that lead to harm, disadvantage, and injustice and erode solidarity across generations. Holding negative attitudes towards ageing shortens our lifespan by 7.5 years – on average.
Globally, 1 in 2 people are ageist against older people, while in the South-East Asia Region, the prevalence of ageism is 86%, the highest among WHO regions.
Ageism prevents us from enjoying our human rights including the right to health.
On the United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2023, WHO is calling on countries and partners in the South-East Asia Region and across the world to deliver on the promise to ensure that all persons, including all older persons, fully enjoy a range of human rights including their right to health.
WHO provides guidance to the governments and training packages for different cadres of health and care professionals to implement the Integrated Care for Older People; and framework for the national governments to implement long-term care as a part of universal health coverage.
WHO is committed to supporting the countries in putting in place policies and services that promote health and provide person-centered integrated care and long-term care to older persons without causing financial hardship.
‘Health For All’ means health for everyone – no matter what our age.