Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 1 October (BelTA) – We need to coordinate efforts to support senior citizens, improve the quality of their life and leisure activities, Marianna Shchetkina, Vice Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, head of the Belarusian Union of Women, said at the national conference “Society for all ages: active longevity”, BelTA has learned.

Marianna Shchetkina stressed that longevity is a matter of increasing importance in Belarus. This is not just about involving senior citizens in organized interest groups, but first of all about giving them the opportunity to carry on with normal lives, independence. “We cannot but talk about it, because the number of people aged 65 and more is increasing. It means that demand for goods and services is changing. So do the labor market, healthcare and social security,” she said.

According to Marianna Shchetkina, people need to feel comfortable, have the opportunity to realize their potential and stay healthy as long as possible. This is why it is important to implement the active aging strategy developed by the World Health Organization in 2002 to improve the quality of life. “This is a general task. We can accomplish only we work in partnership,” Marianna Shchetkina stressed.

The national conference was held at the initiative of the Belarusian Union of Women in cooperation with the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry and was timed to the International Day of Older Persons. It was attended by representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, the Labor and Social Security Ministry, the Belarusian Trade Union of Healthcare Workers, the Belarus Red Cross Society, public associations and international organizations. The experts discussed efforts to provide an environment for the active longevity and promote positive attitude to senior citizens, to develop social and healthcare services. They also reviewed international approaches to deal with aging of population, ways to help seniors lead an active lifestyle.

The participants of the conference adopted a resolution that states the importance of the national active longevity strategy. It should be aimed at providing opportunities for dignified aging and maximizing everyone’s potential. The draft document indicates the necessity to carry out questionnaires of senior citizens in order to assess the need for the services, organize discussion forums in the regions and hold active aging classes.