Conference to address challenges of ageing in Asean region

KUCHING: The first Asean Conference on Healthy Ageing is set to take place in Sarawak this coming Oct 10-12.

It is organised by the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) in collaboration with Sarawak Convention Bureau.

The conference themed ‘Ageing - Challenges, Successes and the Journey Ahead’ aims to help address issues and challenges of rapidly ageing populations in the region.

Clinicians from various disciplines, allied health professionals, the legal fraternity, financial institutions, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, policy makers, and housing developers are among stakeholders to attend the 3day conference that includes plenaries, workshops, forums and symposia in its scientific programme.

Populations in Asia are ageing faster than any other region. Between 2015 and 2034, the older population will grow by about 22 per cent every five years in East Asia.

According to the Live Long and Prosper: Ageing in East Asia and Pacific report, by 2060, 1-in- 5 of the world’s oldest countries will be in East Asia compared to just 1-in-25 in 2010.

“Managing the issues and challenges of ageing effectively will require a holistic approach,” says Professor Nathan Vytialingam who is organising chairman of the Asean Conference on Healthy Ageing.

Nathan is also on the advisory council of the Global Coalition on Ageing and advisor of the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS).

“The Asean Conference on Healthy Ageing will be an ideal platform for stakeholders in the region to gather and discuss these issues and challenges so preparations, policies and framework can be put in place to prepare their nations for the impact of aging populations,” said Nathan.

“This conference will be an opportune time for stakeholders, in particular, healthcare and allied health professionals to meet, network, share knowledge and update themselves on the latest development in their fields of practice,” he added.

The conference will feature an extensive scientific programme of lectures, symposia and forums covering age-related illnesses, stress management, addictions and substance abuse, sustainability of retirement and financial health, mental health, adolescent mental health, nutrition, benefits of exercise and ethico-legal issues at the end of life.

The programme will include sessions on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

On the last day of the conference, a consensus will be drawn up on the issues and challenges of ageing faced by the region and a report forwarded to the respective ministries.

Dato’ Mahadev Shanker ( Former Court of Appeal Judge, Malaysia), Professor Tri Budi W Rahardjo ( Professor in Gerontology, Universitas Indonesia), Emeritus Professor Takeo Ogawa (president of Asian Ageing Business Centre, Japan), Marilyn Pattison ( president of World Federation of Occupational Therapy), Dr Vaikunthan Rajaratnam (senior consultant for Hand in Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore) and Professor Phyo Myint (chair in Old Age Medicine, University of Aberdeen) are among key speakers at the conference.

Points will be awarded to healthcare professionals for attending and the conference is 100 per cent HRDF-SBL claimable.

For registration and more information on the Asean Conference on Healthy Ageing, visit www.acha2017.com or call + 6012 364 6109.