Asian Forum on National Strategy for Population Aging and Establishing Services for Older People

From 29 – 31 December 2008 in Ha Noi, the Asian Forum on National Strategy for  Population Aging and Establishing Services for Older People was held by the Viet Nam Committee on the Elderly with participation of representatives from nine countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister Pham Gia Khiem delivered an opening remarks.

At this forum, reports provide current situation and issues of the population aging trend, national strategy/policy, and services to support older persons. UNFPA Office in Viet Nam gives an update on the global population aging, policy and startegy for the elderly in Viet Nam. The Forum has approved a Ha Noi Memorendum with following recommendations:

·         Finalizing legislative ground, policy and strategy to promote the roles of the elderly, support and care for the elderly;

·         Integrating aging issues and the elderly’s needs into the development of socio-economic and cutural policies;

·         Enhancing communication and advocacy to build friendly communities for the elderly with participation of the communities and older persons;

·         Developing and promoting a service network to provide care and support to the elderly, appropriate with cultural, social and economic characteristics of each country; and with resources from government, communities and individuals;

·         Conducting research, education and communiation and seeking effective measures on population aging; preparing future generations with awareness on aging issues; raising and alocating funds;

·         Establishing a mechanism to share and cooperate in solving aging issues;

·         Developing services for the elderly including public, self-paid and support services. Governments provide free-of-charge services such as health checks, etc; ensuring the elderly’s cultural, mental, and material and health needs;

Setting up a network to support the elderly to travel cultural spots in the region as to promote cultural exchange among contries and peoples; the governments can provide support for this service.