Age Demands Action on Health
One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure.
(c) Frederic Dupoux/HelpAge International
World Health Day, 7 April, older people in 26 countries met their governments to remind them of the health commitments they made in previous years.
Raising awareness about high blood pressure
This year, the theme for World Health Day was hypertension. Also known as raised or high blood pressure, hypertension increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.
According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of high blood pressure is highest in low-income countries in Africa, with over 40% of adults in many African countries thought to be affected.
ADA on Health 2013 highlights
32,414 campaigners in 26 countries were actively involved in the campaign. Of these, 18% were younger people and 42% were older women.
17,657 older people had their blood pressure tested as part of the campaign.
ADA on Health had over 100 media hits including national prime-time radio shows, TV talk shows, and national newspapers.
Members of over 350 Older People's Associations (OPAs) and 76 civil society organisations participated in the campaign.
World Health Day campaign activities
An older woman has her blood pressure taken in Kyrgyzstan.
(c) Nick Bate/HelpAge International
Many campaigners marked World Health Day by telling their governments that hypertension is not only preventable, but it is also easy to detect and inexpensive to treat.
Campaign actions for World Health Day took place in 26 countries. Here are some examples:
Kyrgyzstan: A round table discussion was organised to discuss ways to improve healthcare for older people, with the Ministry of Health, NGOs and medical associations in attendance. Medical staff also targeted older people in 15 rural communities to check for both hypertension and diabetes. Additionally, the Professor Satarovna, the head of the Kyrgyz Association of specialists on non-communicable diseases held a lecture about older people and hypertension.
Indonesia: Long distances to health centres and no access to transport often prevent older people from accessing vital services, so campaigners called on the Deputy Health Minister to set up more public health centres, which he promised to do. In addition to the meeting, an awareness raising event was held and attended by approximately 2000 people, where there was blood pressure testing available from Ministry of Health experts.
Serbia: The ADA delegation met Brankica Janković, State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, who pledged to revise the Strategy on Ageing and action plan for 2014. In addition, many awareness raising actvities across the country were carried focussing on the issue of hypertension. Older people were given the opportunity to listen to renowned cardiologists and get their prevention advice. During the festival’s two days, some 10,000 people got free health check-ups and had their blood pressure measured. In order to reach out communities where access to medical services is limited, army doctors joined the campaign and travelled to remote rural villages to conduct bloop pressure tests.
An older man has his blood pressure tested in Nepal
(c) HelpAge International
Nepal: The ADA delegation met with the Minister for Health and population to follow up on pledges made last year regarding the allocation of geriatric beds. He informed the delegation that the demands are already being addressed by the relevant department of the MoH. In addition to the meeting, an orientation on high blood pressure and free bloop pressure testing was organised in 15 communities in 5 districts. There was also a radio programme and TV show involving older people talking about hypertension to raise public awareness.
Sri Lanka: Older people called for age-friendly facilities in government hospitals, such as access to medicines that control non-communicable diseases. A medical camp and an exhibition was held at Vakarai, Batticaloa district in collaboration with the University of Kelaniya's faculty of medicine. It offered free screening for older people.
South Africa: In the rural community of KwaZulu Natal, older people get up early to stand in long queues outside the health clinics. Often, they are turned away or ignored when they reach the front because they are not a priority. Over 500 campaigners and representatives from the Department of Health and the Department of Sport held a rally calling for age-friendly health services in their community.
Key ADA on Health policy pledges
As well as public action and engagement, a key part of ADA on Health consists of delegations of older people meeting with targeted decision-makers to influence change.
This year saw some promising pledges made, with the potential for millions to benefit as a result. Here are some highlights:
Ghana: The Ghana Health Service (GHS) pledged to incorporate older people’s health needs into 5-year medium-term development plan of GHS. This includes giving older people priority treatment and the reduction of premium exception age from 70 to 60 years.
Indonesia: The deputy minister for health pledged to improve the prevention and monitoring of high blood pressure amongst older people through the establishment of 3,000 public health centres nation-wide.
Serbia: The State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy agreed to revise the Strategy on Ageing and action plan for 2014.
Slovenia: In Slovenia, the chairman of the National Assembly pledged to include active ageing as a priority in the strategy of development of the republic of Slovenia 2014-2018.
Survey on hypertension
HelpAge International has carried out a survey on high blood pressure in over 40 countries. We asked civil society organisations about access, awareness and treatment of hypertension for older people.
Read more about the shocking results!
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Comments submitted for this page
Joseph Vijay Panicker (28th June 2013)
I wish share my expierence that GOD LIVES.PRAYER HAS POWER.On 7th I had a massive stroke of 3rd degree attack of pheneomoneia I invailid (vegetable) for 8mths,2day I am hail&hearty at the age of 69yrs.My friends and relatives all over World prayed for me.I THANK all of them.
Manikonda Prakash Rao (31st May 2013)
Dear sir,
I am now 74 years old and entering 75th year next month i.e., June 2013. As a result of asthma I discontinue practice as advocate in high court Hyderabad India. Devised exercises by which respiratory diseases can brought under control within 30 to 40 minutes.I am very healthy at this age. I advice my other senior citizens to do exercises for 30 minutes a day. I request all my friends to request UN Authorities to have world conferences of senior citizens for exchange of views and other interactions so that they may know or learn from others they way they are living.
Manikonda Prakash RaoJames Mbungyuh Tseyah (30th May 2013)
We need need to look after the health of the elderly with a lot of care and concern.
They were once like us remember.sudama prasad (18th May 2013)
It is very informitive in the interest of human
shaddychu (18th April 2013)
health is the key of life
kali prasad saha (10th April 2013)
most of the hypertension pts unfortunately feel once b.p.reduces they stop taking medicine.It should be emshasised that drugs should be contiued life long
Barbara from HelpAge International (9th April 2013)
Dear friends, thank you for the wonderful comments.
Ebenezer we have an office in Ghana and they do organise fantastic campaigns for older people.
Roland unfortunately we do not have partners in Cameroon but I do agree that health services affect many countries all over Africa.
Balakrishna and Dr.Logilunore thank you for your comments. Please encourage others to provide feedback. We really appreciate them.anjali r bhise (6th April 2013)
lot of awareness really needed
Veena Sahu (5th April 2013)
Good work for Elderly Health.
Kouadio Yahot Pascal (4th April 2013)
How about Côte d'Ivoire? We need a such organisation in the profit of older people for better life
Joseph Vijay Panicker (4th April 2013)
Iwish to volunteer for this noble cause.
ebenezer yankson (29th March 2013)
I admire this programme which i hope will be extended to my country Ghana.lets all give our support for this.
roland t (29th March 2013)
How about cameroon ,i wonder if its included in the 40 countries mention.if yes how can i get action with them.
Balakrishna (29th March 2013)
Really good alarming to take care and prevent.Need to provite the practical tips to prevent and implement.
Dr. Solomon Ole' Logilunore (29th March 2013)
It is true that Hypertension is most common diseases of old aged but most of the hospital staff and especially the para medics do not know how to manage the condition. Many dispensaries and health centres dont even have a BP monitor.Please Governments train and give staff the equipments and expertize.
