ReliefWeb

PAHO/WHO celebrates World Health Day with the theme: Good health adds life to years

Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. The topic of World Health Day in 2012 is Ageing and Health with the theme: Good health adds life to years. The issue gains more importance as within the next five years, the number of adults aged 65 and over will outnumber children under the age of 5.

World Health Day event remarks also the fact that in emergency situations, older people can be especially vulnerable. The degree and severity to which older persons are affected in disasters depends on the specific characteristics of the persons and their environment but physical problems and functional limitations, more common in old age, could increase their vulnerability.

One important strategy to reduce this impact is the mainstreaming of ageing considerations into all disaster management programs, using a participatory approach, to ensure that older persons have a voice. Ensuring that all activities take into account the needs, capacities, specific vulnerabilities, and perspectives of all ages is key as well as providing timely and practical information which can be understood.

When communities are displaced by disasters, for example, older people may be unable to travel long distances. Yet, in many situations they can also be a valuable resource for their communities as well as for the humanitarian aid process when they are involved as community leaders.

PAHO/WHO joins in the global celebration of this date, recognizes that older persons can make positive contributions during times of crisis and call humanitarian actors to take their special health needs into consideration during emergencies or disasters situations.

New publication: Older people and disasters

The Caribbean has the fastest ageing population in the developing world. Yet studies in Caribbean reveal that most shelters do not cater to the needs and conditions of older persons, lacking for example privacy, appropriate bedding and access for the disabled.

This new publication takes a look at older people in disaster situations, with a particular focus on the Caribbean, and provides an overview of considerations to ensure that this group of people has the requested respond to their needs in disasters.