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Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference Ageing and Non Communicable Diseases Toronto 26-29 March Sylvia Beales Head of Strategic Alliances sbeales@helpage.org. A story on CNN about the impact of the earthquake and tsunami on Japan’s ageing population.
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Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference Ageing and Non Communicable Diseases Toronto 26-29 March Sylvia Beales Head of Strategic Alliances sbeales@helpage.org
A story on CNN about the impact of the earthquake and tsunami on Japan’s ageing population
Who we are • HelpAge International helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives • Global reach via Affiliates and partners in 80 countries • Vision of a world in which all older people can lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives • Mix of practical programmes, influence and advocacy, evidence gathering • WHO and UN ECOSOC consultative status category 1
Advocacy and communications Flagships Older People on the edge; to expose • Extreme violations – witchcraft, elder abuse, land grabbing • Emergencies – displacement; neglect • Hunger; chronic seasonal poverty Agents for change: to make visible and to demonstrate • Contributions to family and community • Impact when older people mobilise for change as activists • Roles of older women as carers, educators and workers Healthy Ageing/positive living; clear calls for • Access to health in difficult circumstances • Free essential drugs for conditions common in older age • Age friendly health services and training
An older man in Mozambique participates in our Insights on Ageing survey
Ageing and health • The increasing proportion of older people in the global population is contributing to the increase of age-associated chronic diseases, particularly in developing countries. Care-givers, health systems and societies need to be ready to cope with the growing needs of the elderly in every part of the world (WHO 2008) • Health promotion and disease prevention intervention at community level is needed as well as disease management strategies within their health care system (WHO 2008) • Depression and Alzheimer's are among the 20 leading causes of disability worldwide. Alzheimer's affects 1 in 20 over the age of 65 and in in 5 over the age of 80
Why the Summit matters The key challenge for world is how to build… • Process has potential to: • Highlight data, action and definitional deficiencies on NCDs across the lifecourse • Highlight costs, socioeconomic impacts and developmental challenges of NCDs in developing countries • Encourage commitment from Heads of Government to tackle NCDs • Develop options for financial resources for health reform for developing countries • Support civil society coalition building on NCDs and development – hitherto agenda on health dominated by responses to HIV and Aids, TB and malaria
Expected outcome of Summit • A concise Action-Orientated Outcomes Statement • G77 calling for clear programme of action post summit for governments and other stakeholders to pursue at the end of the Summit. • Summit to include roundtable session topics in which member states and civil society will participate. Roundtables to cover • Implementation of NCD prevention strategies • NCD control strategies with access to essential medicines and technologies • Strengthening national capacities to address NCDs • Fostering international cooperation to address NCDs
Limitations of the Summit • Focus on the four NCDs in WHO 2008-13 plan • Not whole life course - focus is on the under 60’s • Age discrimination alive and well in wording such as ‘preventable premature death under 60’ • Summit and its civil society drivers does not include mental health and Alzheimers • Care giving and access to medicines in old age not in • Role of older care givers not explored • Non Communicable Diseases terminology not clear for activists • Older people not engaged in advocacy on the Summit yet
What we would like The key challenge for world is how to build… • End to age discrimination in prevention, diagnosis, treatment • Removal of ‘premature death’ language and reference to gender dimension of care by older people for older people • Recognition of NCD prevalence and socio economic impacts in 60 plus – Ageing as key driver of NCDs • Outcomes endorse a whole “life-course” approach and deliver free and accessible health care for all • Post MDG agenda to include costed and accountable action on ageing and NCDs, including dementia and HIV • Older people to engage in lobbies for age friendly policies and actions on the prevention and management of NCDs
Potential asks in the outcome document • Whole life course approach to NCDs in the global development goals beyond 2015 • UN system partnership with governments and civil society to build on existing commitments on health and older persons • Specific target to reduce NCD death rates in old age • Older people and dementia specifically referenced under measures to target high-risk populations • Diagnostics, Treatment and Care protocols with monitoring and accountability mechanisms • Age friendly health systems to ensure access • Specify prominence of older people as population at particularly high risk
Civil society action and NCD Alliance http://www.ncdalliance.org/ • Formed in 2009; chair Ann Keeling, based in Brussels • Members are International Diabetes Federation; World Heart Federation; UICC Global Cancer Control; International Union against TB and Lung Disease • National NCD Alliance coalitions in all regions and many countries • NCD alliance strategic supporters include Medtronic, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis • Six asks for Summit - accountability, tobacco control, agreement to prevent the preventable, focus on treatment and care, resources, NCDs in MDG successor goals • 34 commitments proposed in draft outcome document under the headings: Leadership, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment, Health systems, Resources, Research, Human rights and vulnerability, Monitoring and follow-up • Current focus on ‘populations at high risk’ does not include ageing
Next Steps • Prepare wording to influence outcome document • Stimulate debate – expert meetings, reports, media • Inform networks, keep debate going • Build national, regional and international alliances • Advocacy action in regional meetings, WHO events, Summit • Influence outcome document directly • Engage with governments and civil society to take action • Participate in Summit meetings – June and September NY • Develop plan post Summit
Ideas for discussion • ADI and HelpAge International collaboration • National level – where? • Regional level – when? • Action with WHO? • Explore joint evidence and advocacy linking ageing, dementia and HIV? • Joint statements and positioning for the summit? • Wording for the outcome document? • Joint monitoring and input post Summit?