Delegations of older people from 27 developing countries who met with government Ministers last week (1 October) as part of the global Age Demands Action campaign organised by HelpAge International, have received firm commitments of increased pensions, improved healthcare and better access to basic needs such as food, water and credit.

HelpAge International launched Age Demands Action in 2007 to raise awareness of the unique problems older people face and their vital role as farmers, leaders, carers, wage earners, educators.

In Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Zambia, governments agreed to expand coverage of existing social pension schemes. In India, the government agreed to make the old-age pension available to all poor people in the country. Previously, the pension was only available to those considered destitute – the poorest of the poor.

In the Philippines, older people secured government support for the Elderly Poor Pension Act for social pensions which is currently going through the legislative procedure.

In countries such as Bolivia, India and Sri Lanka, older people cannot access benefits or free healthcare without an identity card, and the procedure to get one can often be long and costly. The government in India agreed to give an additional one million older men and women identity cards.

In Bangladesh, the Joint Chief of Health agreed to improve older people’s access to primary healthcare by providing dedicated weekly clinics.

Access to food and water is also an issue for many poor older people. In Ethiopia, the Minister for Water agreed to specifically include them in programmes to provide water to the most vulnerable in rural and urban areas.

In Zambia, the government agreed to expand a food ration scheme for older people and to include them in a wider food security programme to support agricultural activities. In Bangladesh, the government offered credit to older people’s associations.

In Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and Uganda governments agreed to progress national policies on ageing. The Vietnamese government revised the draft Law of the Elderly to give older people access to existing micro-credit and health insurance schemes.

In Uganda, Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi re-affirmed the government’s commitment to implement a national policy to address issues facing older people. Ministers in Kyrgyzstan agreed to provide support to older people by adopting a law on older citizens.

The delegations, reporting on the meetings they held with ministers, said these events signal a change in how older people’s issues will be viewed in the future. Such meetings look set to become an annual event in the political calendar on 1 October, UN International Day of Older Persons.

Many delegates felt a sense of leadership and empowerment as they realised they could achieve these great results.

“This is the first time that older people have been involved in a global campaign to enact change and make their governments listen and respond to their needs,” says Richard Blewitt, HelpAge International’s Chief Executive Officer.

“The results have been amazing and show that older people have an important contribution to make to society and to shaping ageing policies and practices for future generations, because Age Demands Action.”

“Older people are resourceful individuals who can still serve their nation,” said Marcellina Denya Loteka, Chair of the South Sudan Older People’s Organisation.

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For further information contact:

Julia Pitman, Media Officer on +44 207 278 7778 or email

jpitman@helpage.org

Notes to Editors

HelpAge International has a vision of a world in which all older people fulfil their potential to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives.

HelpAge International is a global network striving for the rights of disadvantaged older people to economic and physical security; healthcare and social services; and support in their caregiving role across the generations.