Population aging and challenges
(Baonghean.vn) Comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa - Head of the Provincial Department of Population/Family Planning discussed the issue of "Population aging and challenges".
Reporter: Could you tell us about the current situation of population aging in Nghe An? What are the causes and effects of this on the local socio-economic development?
Comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa:
Population aging is a global phenomenon. This phenomenon began to appear in the 20th century and increased in the 21st century. According to the United Nations, a country with a proportion of elderly people (NCT) aged 60 or older accounting for 10% or more or a proportion of elderly people aged 65 or older accounting for 7% or more is considered to have an aging population. Currently, the proportion of NCT in Vietnam
Competition for excellent population specialists in Nghi Loc district Photo: TH
In Nghe An, according to statistics, currently, the elderly aged 60+ account for 11.17%, and if calculated from 65+ and above, it accounts for 7.3%, meaning that this index in Nghe An has exceeded the national average. Nghe An is one of 7 provinces with a higher elderly rate than the average, the number of elderly over 100 years old according to the 2009 population census is over 1,200 people.
There are many causes, but the most basic cause according to UNFPA is that population aging is due to the average life expectancy increasing, while the birth rate and death rate are decreasing. The increase in the elderly rate proves that the health care conditions for the elderly have been increasingly improved.
The rate of population aging is increasing rapidly, we are facing difficulties and challenges. While most countries in the world are moving towards an aging population structure when their economies have developed, in Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular, the issue of population aging has only really been of concern in the past few years, the aging population structure comes early, while our country has just escaped poverty and Nghe An is still a poor province with the majority of the elderly living mainly in rural areas, working as farmers and farmers, living off their children and grandchildren... The proportion of the elderly in poor households is still not small.
Population aging affects all aspects of human life and society. Population aging will affect economic growth, savings, investment and consumption, the labor market, pensions, taxes, and generational transition (the cost of health care for an elderly person is 8 times the cost of childcare). In the social field, population aging will affect health and health care, family structure and living arrangements, housing and migration, and other social security issues to meet the needs of the elderly population, considered the most disadvantaged and vulnerable group. The biggest challenge for Nghe An is that currently the health care system for the elderly does not have any geriatric institutes or geriatric centers.
PV: With its functions and duties, what programs does the Population Department have to care for the elderly?
Comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa:
In the field of population, recently, the Department of Population/Family Planning has coordinated with relevant departments, branches and sectors to advise the Provincial Party Standing Committee on Resolution No. 20 and Action Program No. 453/CTHĐ-UBND - VX dated November 12, 2009 of the Provincial People's Committee, which provides orientations for caring for the elderly in both material and spiritual life, promoting the elderly in mobilizing and reminding their children to implement the population/family planning policy; in fact, many units have paid attention to implementing this content well, such as integrating it into the campaign,... examining and providing medicine for the elderly in the area. However, to have truly synchronous policies and solutions, effectively implementing the elderly policy in accordance with the current practical needs of the elderly, we are still lacking and not really clear.
Currently, the Population sector is focusing on developing the Project "Community-based Elderly Care and Counseling Model", this project is within the framework of the General Department of Population/Family Planning project with the goal of contributing to improving population quality, currently, we are conducting a survey of the current situation to have specific input data and preparing for organizing a workshop to develop the project, it is expected that in the near future in 2011 it will be implemented in 3 districts...
PV: To serve the care of the elderly at present, in your opinion, what specific plans are needed?
Comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa: To serve the work of caring for the elderly, in my opinion, we need to focus on the following issues:
Firstly, agencies, departments, branches and organizations need to propagate and mobilize people to raise awareness about the current situation and responsibility in implementing policies for the elderly; localities create favorable conditions for the project "Nghe An Elderly Model" to be effectively implemented.
Second, on the basis of the Government's National Action Program, the province needs to have a long-term, proactive plan to address the issue of population aging in Nghe An.
It is necessary to develop a policy to socialize the work of taking care of the elderly's health, promoting the intelligence and identity of the elderly in social community activities, so that the elderly can "live healthy and useful lives".
Care and support policies for the elderly according to specific age groups; develop and promulgate free medical examination and treatment policies for the elderly to ensure high feasibility. Policies can be developed in stages and according to priority groups.
Socialize the mobilization of investment resources to build semi-public or private elderly care models and home-based elderly care models to mobilize community participation and contributions.
PV: Thank you, comrade.
PV (Implementation)
