The World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 to commemorate the establishment of the World Health Organisation in 1948. Each year a different topic is selected to seek international attention and focus on a priority concern with global impact and significant long term/future consequences.
The World Health Day 2012 is dedicated to Ageing and Health with the motto “Good health adds life to years” an area that concerns all of us. The theme intends to convey the important message that good health throughout life will enable older men and women to lead full productive lives and continue to be a valuable presence for their families and communities. Promoting and maintaining good health throughout life improves the chances of remaining healthy and productive in later years.
Pakistan, in line with the global trends of declining death rates and increasing life spans, is also experiencing a steady rise in its elderly population. At present, 4.2 percent of the total population is over 65 years of age with the strong likelihood of doubling this percentage by 2025. Similarly, the current life expectancy of 65.99 years at birth will reach about 72 years by 2023. Other emerging social and cultural transformations of declining traditional family values and extended family systems will not only further compromise the status of the older people but also pose significant health and socioeconomic implications on the country as a whole.
There are some medical and psychosocial aspects exclusive to the older population, however, the predominant health conditions increasingly suffered by the elderly relate to the higher disease burden including hypertension (36 percent in elderly), diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, disabilities and cancers, along with significant infectious diseases. Likewise 60 percent deaths due to diabetes, 59 percent due to cardio-vascular diseases and 29 percent due to cancers occur among old people above 60 years.
In Pakistan 54 percent of men and 20 percent of women use different forms of tobacco, while 90 percent of people consume less than two servings of vegetables a day, with limited physical exercise, these unhealthy behaviours can lead to serious diseases such as hypertension and cancers. Coupled with meagre resources for health and a near absence of geriatric health requirements, Pakistan will in future be further challenged in caring for the increasingly aging population.
Therefore, there is an immediate need to recognise and take comprehensive timely action to address population ageing through systematic integrated health care and social services complemented with continued family support, love and respect. Simple preventive measures and healthy life style changes such as walking, physical activities good balanced diet and refraining from risky habits including smoking and other tobacco substances can save hundreds of lives, prevent disability and improve quality of life of old people.
The theme of the World Health Day signifies that a productive dignified existence is possible in old age provided a healthy life style is adopted throughout life, with steps taken to prevent and control chronic health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
The afflictions of old age are an outcome of the health experiences and behaviours in earlier life. World Health Organization calls for the promotion and practice of healthy behaviours and eating habits, regular exercise and avoidance of risk exposures like smoking, harsh physical labour and accidents to protect health and minimise the potential disability and suffering in old age. Quality of life should remain a high priority and focus and due consideration must also be given to account for gender realities and specific needs. The government, society and communities as a whole, need to act now and plan together responsibly for health services and supportive environments favourable to graceful healthy ageing.
As parents and grand parents, the older people are an invaluable, comforting presence in our lives. It is only fair that we should make a sincere collective resolve to foster societies which respect them and provide equal opportunities and resources to protect and advance good health in old age both for men and women as an ultimate investment in our own future.
