There’s a need for universal health care to prevent older people from slipping into poverty and being unable to pay for health services.
By Anthony Thanasayan - FMT
One of the frustrations I have faced growing up with a disability all of my life, and later working as a councillor with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), is coming across people who think that being handicapped is something that only happens to other people.
They couldn’t be more wrong.
Basically, this false notion is the reason why government at the various levels seems to respond in a sluggish manner to calls from disability groups for infrastructure to include disabled and elderly-friendly facilities.
MBPJ is an exception in this case.
Little by little, the planning, engineering and building departments here have begun taking positive measures to build a barrier-free society for everyone.
We are not only concerned about the growing elderly population with increasing disabilities, but equally worried about the many handicapped citizens “imprisoned” in towns and cities that have never really cared for them or considered their participation in society.
While several councils in Selangor said they needed “more convincing facts” that the lack of facilities was a problem, others are mostly in a state of denial that people with disabilities even existed, and if so in significant numbers.
An increasing aging population
A report last week by American broadcast institution, the Voice of America (VOA), on an increasingly aging population should serve as a timely wake-up call for everyone concerned.
The VOA quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO), as saying that “Governments the world over must now prepare to deal with an increasingly aging world.”
“Otherwise, the growing burden of chronic diseases will seriously affect the quality of life of older people and create economic and other hardships for national health systems.”
The VOA revealed that these findings appeared in a new series on health and aging published in the British journal, The Lancet.
According to them, the latest statistics show that by 2050, an estimated two billion people will be aged 60 and older, more than double the 841 million today.
The WHO noted that 80 per cent of these older people will be living in low and middle-income countries.
A burden to society
The increase in longevity in affluent countries is largely due to the “decline in deaths from cardiovascular disease resulting from simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce tobacco use and high blood pressure.”
A VOA interview with WHO Senior Policy and Strategy Adviser in the Department of Aging and Life Course Islene Araujo revealed that life expectancy in Africa now is 60 years.
She explained that cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and infarction are not only responsible for killing most elderly people but causing stroke survivors to “become disabled, burdening society”.
She also pointed out that cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by controlling hypertension, which can save many lives and avoid disability.
Besides heart disease and stroke, VOA reported that other major illnesses of aging include cancers, chronic lung disease, sensory disorders, vision problems, mental and neurological disorders.
One WHO report author told the VOA that “there are low-cost strategies that can help older people live healthier lives” like reducing one’s salt intake.
A policy change
According to the VOA, the report’s authors also suggested changing policies to encourage older adults to remain part of the workforce beyond their retirement age.
They also agreed with the WHO’s call for universal health care to prevent older people from slipping into poverty and being unable to pay for health services.
The VOA also suggested that people of all ages should not smoke, do more physical activity, and practice moderate alcohol consumption and good nutrition in order to enjoy good health dividends later in life.
Anthony Thanasayan is an FMT columnist
One of the frustrations I have faced growing up with a disability all of my life, and later working as a councillor with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), is coming across people who think that being handicapped is something that only happens to other people.
They couldn’t be more wrong.
Basically, this false notion is the reason why government at the various levels seems to respond in a sluggish manner to calls from disability groups for infrastructure to include disabled and elderly-friendly facilities.
MBPJ is an exception in this case.
Little by little, the planning, engineering and building departments here have begun taking positive measures to build a barrier-free society for everyone.
We are not only concerned about the growing elderly population with increasing disabilities, but equally worried about the many handicapped citizens “imprisoned” in towns and cities that have never really cared for them or considered their participation in society.
While several councils in Selangor said they needed “more convincing facts” that the lack of facilities was a problem, others are mostly in a state of denial that people with disabilities even existed, and if so in significant numbers.
An increasing aging population
A report last week by American broadcast institution, the Voice of America (VOA), on an increasingly aging population should serve as a timely wake-up call for everyone concerned.
The VOA quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO), as saying that “Governments the world over must now prepare to deal with an increasingly aging world.”
“Otherwise, the growing burden of chronic diseases will seriously affect the quality of life of older people and create economic and other hardships for national health systems.”
The VOA revealed that these findings appeared in a new series on health and aging published in the British journal, The Lancet.
According to them, the latest statistics show that by 2050, an estimated two billion people will be aged 60 and older, more than double the 841 million today.
The WHO noted that 80 per cent of these older people will be living in low and middle-income countries.
A burden to society
The increase in longevity in affluent countries is largely due to the “decline in deaths from cardiovascular disease resulting from simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce tobacco use and high blood pressure.”
A VOA interview with WHO Senior Policy and Strategy Adviser in the Department of Aging and Life Course Islene Araujo revealed that life expectancy in Africa now is 60 years.
She explained that cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and infarction are not only responsible for killing most elderly people but causing stroke survivors to “become disabled, burdening society”.
She also pointed out that cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by controlling hypertension, which can save many lives and avoid disability.
Besides heart disease and stroke, VOA reported that other major illnesses of aging include cancers, chronic lung disease, sensory disorders, vision problems, mental and neurological disorders.
One WHO report author told the VOA that “there are low-cost strategies that can help older people live healthier lives” like reducing one’s salt intake.
A policy change
According to the VOA, the report’s authors also suggested changing policies to encourage older adults to remain part of the workforce beyond their retirement age.
They also agreed with the WHO’s call for universal health care to prevent older people from slipping into poverty and being unable to pay for health services.
The VOA also suggested that people of all ages should not smoke, do more physical activity, and practice moderate alcohol consumption and good nutrition in order to enjoy good health dividends later in life.
Anthony Thanasayan is an FMT columnist
"Even though you are handicapped, I want you to speak up in the Dewan Negara," Abu Zahar (left) said when congratulating Bathmavathi.
The Star