With the number of older persons in Asia rising at an unprecedented pace and a scale unmatched anywhere else, supporting governments in addressing the issue of ageing has become a regional priority for UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. During his recent visit to India, Thailand, the Philippines and China, UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin heard presentations about ageing as one of the most significant demographic challenges facing a number of countries in the region, with strong links to national and regional developmental challenges and their solutions. Responding to requests to step-up UNFPA support in this area, Dr. Osotimehin stressed the need to prioritize ageing in UNFPA’s strategy, particularly in the region. In this context, UNFPA supported the Third Asia/Pacific Regional Conference on “Rapid Ageing: A Caring Future”, held in Yangon, Myanmar on 7-11 May. 

The conference was a timely event for Myanmar, which is undergoing political and economic reforms with an emphasis on inclusive economic growth, equity and social inclusion. It also
gave participant countries an opportunity to reiterate the commitments they made at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and at the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) to integrate the rights and needs of older persons into national economic and social development policies.

The event was organized and supported by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Myanmar, HelpAge International, Ministry of Health, UNFPA, Age UK, New Zealand AID, Htoo Foundation and Air Bagan. A wide range of stakeholders were represented, including government agencies and civil society from more than 20 countries in the region, UN agencies and donors.

The population aged 60 and above in Asia is estimated to almost triple by 2050, rising from 414 million in 2010 to 1.26 billion, with women in the majority. This reflects progress in science and technology, which has made it possible to prevent and treat communicable diseases lowering mortality rates at all ages. 

This shift in the population structure will have profound and far-reaching social, economic and health-related implications. Governments are overwhelmed with the challenges on social protection and social security. There are mounting pressures on health care, family and social support systems.  There is a need to adapt economies to an increasingly older labour force. Many older persons are facing social isolation and exclusion.
 
It is estimated that per capita health expenditures for older persons will be three to five times higher than for those under 65. Countries face challenges that include: helping people remain independent and active as they age; improving the quality of life in old age; assuring quality care for all within a sustainable health care system; and balancing the roles of the family, community and the state in caring for older persons who need assistance.

In her opening address at the conference, UNFPA Director for Asia and the Pacific Nobuko Horibe noted that the Fund supports governments in finding programmatic solutions and appropriate policy responses to ageing, by supporting the collection of quality data, promoting research on the social and economic impact of ageing, and sharing knowledge and best practices through South-South cooperation.

In Myanmar, people 60 and over are 10 per cent of the total population, up from 8.7 per cent in 2007. The country’s second National Health Plan integrated health care for elderly into the primary health care system, and the 2008 constitution prescribed care for the aged and disabled. A draft social security law includes provisions on social guarantees for the aged people.  

U Aung Kyi, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, said, “There is a need to lay down policies to promote the participation of older persons in the economic and social sectors in order to develop the best quality of life of older people and to create an age-friendly environment to ensure active-ageing society.”

Following number of presentations on caring for aged and fruitful discussions among the delegates, the meeting agreed on inputs to the regional review of MIPAA and of the ICPD Programme of Action.  Salient recommendations include: 1)  Develop policies on care management and implement age-friendly policy and programmes;  2) Train care givers and managers in holistic care management; 3) Advocate with and provide technical assistance to relevant government departments;  4) Build the capacity of  local governments and civil societies through awareness raising, resource mobilization, technology and methodology, networking between international and national organizations, and research;  5) Strengthen community-based services using more-integrated approaches to providing care, and prevention of chronic and, communicable and accidents; 6) Create public-private partnership and allocate part of the profits for programmes that benefit older people and other vulnerable groups.

The Third Asia-Pacific Regional Conference was an excellent platform for sharing experiences and good practices, engaging in dialogue on policies and actions to address the needs of older persons, and highlighting the crucial need for a caring future.

UNFPA has been supporting the Myanmar Government in conducting research on population ageing and in developing a draft Plan of Action on Ageing. The Department of Social Welfare, Help Age and UNFPA are planning joint research on the socio-economic characteristics of older persons in Myanmar.  The proposed population and housing census in 2014 with disaggregated data by age, sex, locality and ethnicity will provide the basis for evidence-based policies, plans and programmes to address development issues including population ageing.

Using its partnerships with the National Commission on Population and Development and the Parliamentary Committee on Population and Social Development, UNFPA plans to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations of Myanmar conference. It will also address ageing concerns with the government, civil society and parliament during the ICPD Beyond 2014 review process.