PHILL International Conference Abstract [MS Word Document - 530 KB]

Bringing the emerging issue of an increase in the population of the aged into focus, BRAC in Bangladesh, the European Commission, Health Strategy and Policy Institute in Vietnam, Karolinska Institute in Sweden and University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom conducted an intervention project called “Primary Health-Care in Later Life: Improving Services in Bangladesh and Vietnam” (PHILL). The aim of the project is to improve health and quality of life of elderly people living in rural communities in Bangladesh and Vietnam. The project aims to identify low-cost, preventive and health promotion interventions, in improving primary health care for older persons in rural communities of Bangladesh and Vietnam. Results of this recently completed intervention project indicate increased awareness regarding health care needs of elderly people among health care providers, community members, caregivers of elderly persons and the elderly individuals themselves. This is reflected on better health patterns among the elderly and informed self-care in management of health problems in both Bangladesh and Vietnam. In this context, a conference has been arranged by the PHILL group on November 28-30, 2005.

This international conference is a result of a collaborative action research project between four institutions across Asia and Europe. It has been arranged not only to mark the completion of the project and disseminate results but also to take the opportunity to bring together professionals, policy makers, academics and researchers to actively prepare for the challenges of population ageing in low-income regions of the world. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of mainstreaming the ageing population in health systems and rural development, to discuss practical approaches of the different ways in which such mainstreaming can be done and its policy implications in the context of low-income countries. It also gives an opportunity to share experiences of participants from high-income countries who have used innovative ways to address the challenges of population ageing.

The success of intense public health interventions by government and non-government organisations in low-income countries over the past few decades is reflected in the growing elderly population in these countries. Contrary to popular belief, the majority (nearly 60%) of the world elderly population lives in low-income regions of the world, particularly in Asia. By 2050, the global elderly population is projected to triple to 2 billion. In Bangladesh, where the absolute number of the ageing population has been increasing, it is projected that by 2025, the elderly population will exceed 17 million, where one out of every ten persons will be elderly. Approximately 80,000 new elderly are added to an ageing population of 8.5 million every year. This increase in the elderly population in Bangladesh during the period 1990-1995 is projected to be much faster (219%) than that of European countries like Sweden, where the increase is projected to be 33%, UK, where it is 45% or Germany where it is 66%.

In Bangladesh, adult health has received little attention from primary health care services. Health issues of the elderly rarely appears on the public health agenda except some fragmented activities undertaken in the voluntary and nongovernmental sectors. One of the main problems is making the elderly issues visible, i.e., mainstreaming the elderly health and development issues in the national agenda. Potential barriers for older persons to access health services include financial barriers, physical barriers (mobility, geographical location), infrastructure barriers (existing PHC services specifically targeting children and women), factors relating to social attitudes (of providers as well as older people themselves and their families), and a lack of awareness about the existing services. Knowledge and skills about treating elderly patients is not covered within the medical or para-professional curriculum. It is essential that health providers be made aware of health issues facing elderly people through the primary health care infrastructure. Well targeted primary health care interventions have considerable potential to prevent ill health and consequently improve the quality of life of elderly people in any country. With the projected increase in the population of elderly people, it is essential that their health care needs are addressed through primary health care system to reduce the burden of demand for services at higher levels.

For more information on the PHILL conference, please contact: Syed Masud Ahmed, Research Coordinator, BRAC Research and Evaluation Division. Tel: 9881265 Ext. 2704.

For more information on BRAC, please contact: Minhaz Uddin Anwar, Communications Coordinator, BRAC. Tel: 9881265 Ext, 2158. Cell: 0173 042 775

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