Photo courtesy of the Labor and Social Protection Ministry
MINSK, 2 October (BelTA) – The international forum on healthy and active longevity “Health, career, leisure, family” is taking place in Minsk, BelTA has learned.
The forum has brought together more than 150 participants from nearly 20 countries (offline and online), including Russia, Uzbekistan, the UAE, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and many other ones.
Deputy Labor and Social Protection Minister Marina Artemenko noted that the purpose of the forum is for leading international experts to share innovative solutions, new approaches, and technologies in the fields of healthcare, geriatrics, and social work. “So that we could work together to promote the latest approaches to improving the quality of life of the older generation in the interests of the populations of our countries,” she said.
According to Marina Artemenko, the main task is to promote the creation of a society that not only cares for older people, but above all creates opportunities for older people themselves to contribute to their healthy and active lives. “We are well aware that older people are becoming a very rapidly growing segment of the population today. In our country 18% of the population is already 65 years of age or older. And by 2030 one in five Belarusians will cross this age threshold,” she said, adding that this is a global trend.
The deputy minister is confident that much has already been done in Belarus to ensure the comfort of the older generation. “First of all, state minimum social standards in the field of healthcare and social services have been introduced and are operational. And it is very important to develop these approaches. Since 2021 we have been implementing a national strategy on active longevity, and as a result, today our older generation is very actively involved in public and social life. They participate in the volunteer movement. There are already more than 5,000 silver volunteers. The basic institutions for active longevity are social service centers, and in fact, every one of them now has active longevity programs, ranging from yoga and Nordic walking to dancing, folk crafts, and creativity,” Marina Artemenko shared.
The program itself is also evolving. “For the next five years the new state program includes a separate subprogram called ‘Well-being of the older generation. It is aimed primarily at developing universities for seniors and a network of active longevity schools. All these matters of prevention and development today create the best conditions for older people to be truly in demand and feel comfortable in the modern society,” the deputy minister said.
Plenary sessions and panel sessions dedicated to innovations for active longevity, the social well-being of older people, and progressive approaches to comprehensive support will be held during the forum today. Tomorrow participants will attend a roundtable session to discuss specific ideas for joint projects and will visit social infrastructure facilities in Minsk.
Follow us on:
