WHO will conduct research and develop global strategies that could help countries formulate their national policies to tackle the public health impact of rapidly ageing populations in both developed and, especially, developing countries. Such strategies will be culturally sensitive. Also, special emphasis will be placed on maintaining social cohesion between generations to avoid conflict of interests, particularly over the allocation of scarce resources in the health sector. A key dimension would be the gender issue, stressed Dr Brundtland. Men and women age differently.
Men die earlier while women experience greater burden of disease and disability in older age.
Another important area WHO strategies will look into is how to help older people with disabilities maintain or regain control of their lives. National active ageing policies should embrace all older persons, including those with disabilities. Their problems should be dealt with in the community where they live, emphasised Dr Brundtland. Throughout the International Year of Older Persons and beyond, WHO will be conducting research, developing and implementing active ageing strategies and promoting this concept. She pledged to devote her entire agenda on that day to the issue and said she would invite Heads of State and Governments from all WHO Member States to devote part of their time to the issue as well.