Africa-Press – Mauritius. A National Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) Strategic and Action Plan 2022–2026 elaborated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, with the support of the World Health Organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, was launched this morning by the Prime Minister, Mr.
Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the Côte d’Or National Complex. On the same occasion, a Carnet de Santé for Mauritians aged 60 years and above, which is one of the key strategic actions of the Plan, and a sensitisation video on healthy aging were launched.
The Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, and the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, as well as other eminent personalities, were also present on the occasion.
In his address, the Prime Minister underpinned the mission of the Government to provide the elderly population with the necessary assistance so that they can live in the best conditions possible and enjoy a good quality of life.
He emphasised that Government recognises their immense contribution to chart the country’s progress and reiterated his unwavering determination to continuously cater for their protection.
The implementation of the Plan is a landmark initiative for the country to enable our elderlies to age healthily, live in decent conditions and remain autonomous, he stated. Mr.
Pravind Kumar Jugnauth recalled that the country currently counts 173 centenarians and is listed among the five African countries with the highest life expectancy, which according to him are testimony of the continuous efforts being made to provide the best healthcare services to the elderlies.
Besides, he outlined the key infrastructural projects being funded by the Government to enhance health services, including: the New Cancer Hospital at Solferino, a modern State-Of-the-Art health institution at Flacq, additional Mediclinics at Bel-Air, Grand Bois, Quartier Militaire and Stanley, amongst others. He also cautioned against sedentary lifestyle and elaborated on the benefits of engaging in sports activities to stay in good health.
As for Minister Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, she spoke of the range of benefits that the Government has provided to the senior citizens of the country to cater for their financial independence and assure a good quality of living for them, such as the drastic increase of the Basic Retirement Pension and increase in grants to institutions proving care to the elderlies.
She also announced a new Recreation Centre in Riambel will be operational soon. Furthermore, Mrs. Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo indicated that according to the World Happiness Report 2022 whose Happiness rankings are based on life evaluations as a stable measure of the quality of people’s lives, Mauritius ranks first in Africa.
This achievement, she said, is the result of the efforts of the Government to provide for the well-being of all sections of the population. On that note, the Minister reassured that the welfare, security, protection and best interest of the elderly population, remain at the core of Government’s agenda.
For his part, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal underlined that the aging process depends on the health state of the person which in turn determines the health complications that will be suffered from.
He reassured that the Government is continuously improving public health services and is investing in infrastructural projects to cater for more needs, including the rising number of elderlies.
The National ICOPE Strategic and Action Plan, he underlined, has been elaborated to cater for an integrated care and long-term care and support for older people across health services and will provide for key services for elderlies including: annual check-ups, sensitisation campaigns to raise awareness on preventive measures against different illnesses, and the setting up of an Early Dementia Diagnostic clinic.
Moreover, the Health Minister announced that the Ministry is coming up with a project that involves the setting up of a specialised ward for elderly patients in hospitals, which he stressed, will be separated from the other wards and will be adapted to the special needs of the patients in terms of equipment and personnel.
National ICOPE Strategic and Action Plan The seven strategic objectives and priority areas of the National ICOPE Strategic and Action Plan are to: (a) promote person-centred integrated care and long-term care and support for older people across health and social services at the community level, towards early identification of losses in physical and mental capacities (intrinsic capacity) and provision of appropriate care;
(b) engage and mobilise the community, including older people towards ensuring aged-friendly environment that compensate for loss of intrinsic capacity, and promote participation of older people and support their carers;
(c) coordinate health and social services, with the single goal of maintaining intrinsic capacity of older people through primary and community-based care and facilitating appropriate and timely referral;
(d) develop capacity of health and social care workers in the community at the primary care level for integrated and person-centred approach for assessment and management of decline in capacity in older age;
(e) establish digital innovations and electronic record system to record, store and transmit data on intrinsic capacity and functional ability, and self-management of older people;
(f) strengthen governance and accountability systems; and
(g) update legislation, policies and regulations to support integrated care and protect older persons against abuse and ageism.
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