67-year-old Nan Lay Thu stands in front of her small hut in the countryside Myanmar waiting for her two grandchildren. Dinner is steaming deliciously in a large pot on the small stove. The two of them are sure to come home from school hungry. Her daughter is out working in the fields today. The double income from the father and mother is important for the young family - it is the only way they can afford to send their two children to school. Nan Lay Thu is very happy that she can help here. Many families in the neighborhood are not doing so well: although several generations traditionally live under one roof here too, many of the older ones suffer from age-related ailments and are dependent on the help and care of the younger ones and can only provide a little support in everyday life themselves.
There are more and more older people in the world, as life expectancy is increasing rapidly worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Myanmar , for example, a child born in 2015 can expect to live 20 years longer than 50 years ago (World Report on Ageing in Health WHO 2016). As the birth rate is falling globally at the same time, the population is getting older. This can be a great potential for society or a great burden, because an "old person" is not always an "old person"! There are those who are still healthy in old age and, like Nan Lay Thu, are a great help to society. Many, however, suffer from old-age ailments. According to the WHO, the likelihood that a longer life will bring opportunities depends very much on health. This, in turn, is largely determined by the lifestyle and behavior of people in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. In addition to nutrition and education, this also includes the living environment and the opportunity to have regular check-ups in order to detect illnesses in good time.
"Ageing in health" is therefore another important goal of the WHO. Strategies to build an economically and socially sustainable society are therefore essential. First and foremost, these should include preventive health measures, a balanced diet and access to education.
This is precisely where our activities at Artemed Stiftung come in: In the projects in Bolivia, Myanmar and Tanzania, we are trying to improve preventive examinations and check-ups in the population through suitable and adapted initiatives, ensure healthy nutrition and provide sustainable training for the population through scholarships and training opportunities.
Through this work, we hope that many grandparents and elderly people will be as fit as Nan Lay Thu for a long time and thus not only be happier and content themselves, but also be able to make their contribution to society.
Read more about "Ageing in health" in the WHO report.
