Health strategy launched

GOVERNMENT has launched a healthy ageing strategy that seeks to develop and maintain optimal mental, social and physical well-being and functions in older adults.

The strategy, which was launched during World Health Day commemorations in Harare last week, is expected to address the needs and concerns of elderly people, particularly in accessing social services.

Officially launching the strategy, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa, in a speech read on his behalf by principal director responsible for preventative services in his ministry, Dr Gibson Mhlanga, said current programmes did not sufficiently address the needs of the elderly, hence, the development of an ageing-specific strategy.

“In terms of programming, we sometimes programme in a broad manner focusing on children, women and diseases, and we forget key part of our population who are the elderly,” he said.

“Ageing is most likely to be achieved when communities are safe, promoted health and well-being, and use health services and community programmes to prevent or minimise disease.”

Healthy ageing, he said, emphasised the need for action across multiple sectors and enabling older people to remain a resource to their families, communities and economies.

Dr Parirenyatwa said the elderly developed a number of health conditions and it may require them to take some of their savings to get treatment.

It was against this background, he said, that Government was putting in place a policy to make sure that the needs of the elderly were taken care of.

Older persons board chairperson Mr Edwin Murwira said the healthy ageing strategy was expected to enable the elderly to access health services without hindrances. — Herald Reporter.