| Azaraimy HH |
MINISTER of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar underscored the role family, close friends, grassroot leaders as well as appointed community health ambassadors must play in keeping eye on the health and well-being of the country’s ageing population.
The minister relayed this in his speech during the Healthy Mukim Programme for Mukim Pekan Tutong on Sunday, which carried the theme ‘Maintaining Health at Old Age’.
“The ageing process is a natural life process that everyone goes from the time they are born. Nevertheless, usually we are not aware that we are going through the process until we notice in ourselves physiological changes, or changes in our physical, emotional and mental state. The differences tend to become more apparent as our age increases from year to year, until we reach elderly age,” he said.
At the rate the world population is increasing today, by 2050 one out of five people (20 per cent) of the world population will be 60 years old and above. Brunei Darussalam is not an exception to this trend, and it is projected that the country’s elderly population (those aged 60 years and above) will have increased by more than 30 per cent.
The minister said that maintaining good health during old age is not just about extending one’s life, but it is about maintaining a capable, functioning body throughout the old age period. This involves a process of learning, adopting better lifestyles during old age and creating a living strategy to promote wellness and individual development during one’s ‘golden years’.
Specifically, he added, the following ingredients are required to bring about good health for the country’s seniors: change of mindset and behaviour towards ageing; creating an age-friendly environment; providing easily accessible services and programmes for the elderly; getting the elderly to get involved in community activities; realising a health system that accommodates the needs of the elderly; and providing a long-term care system for the elderly.
“Seniors usually have a higher prevalence of contracting various diseases including non-communicable diseases as well as health symptoms associated with damage to their sensory functions. However, some of these diseases can be prevented and some can be treated or controlled to prevent them from affecting the daily activities or functions of the elderly individual,” the minister said.
“What is most important is that the initial signs of disease are identified early (through regular health inspections) and given prompt treatment, and advices rendered by health professionals are heeded, for example attending appointments set up for them at health centres or hospitals.
“In this respect, family members and close friends as well as grassroot leaders such as village heads and appointed health ambassadors play important roles. Appointed health ambassadors for instance, can become communicators between the elderly or local community (on health related issues) and health professionals of the health centres and hospitals in each district. They can also be enablers for programmes and activities for the promotion of healthy lifestyles, such as in the planning, advocating or adopting of these programmes together with government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local education institutions.”
The minister also highlighted in his speech the experience, expertise and skills that the country’s seniors possess, and how they have contributed valuable advices and guidance to the new generation.
“The development of the country owes much to the contributions and sacrifices of our senior citizens. As everyone will get older eventually and face the same issues as our elders, it is imperative that we preserve our health so that we can continue contributing towards the development of the country, even as we step into old age,” he said.
The minister added that as the main agency looking after the health and wellbeing of the elderly, the Ministry of Health will continue to provide services specific to the country’s senior citizen population.
Among these, he stated, include geriatric medical services through in-patient services and out-patient services at government hospitals, community services such as home-based nursing, geriatric and palliative nurse community visits, as well as the palliative helpline and Pusat Amal Cerah Sejahtera (PACS) located at Kampong Subok, which today provides a support group for those suffering from dementia.
“Other than these, from the aspect of prevention and control of diseases, various steps have been implemented to promote healthy lifestyles, including the Healthy Mukim Programme run in collaboration with the Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PKWE) Tutong which was recently launched for the elderly population in the Tutong District,” the minister said.
Concluding his speech, the minister gave assurances that the Ministry of Health will continue working with various stakeholder government agencies and NGOs such as Demensia Brunei, that is focussed on problems associated with dementia and works to spread awareness among the people of Brunei Darussalam on matters relating to healthy ageing.