Kuala Lumpur, 19th September 2017 – The 1st ASEAN Conference on Healthy Ageing is set to take place this 10th-12th October in Sarawak, Malaysia. Themed Ageing – Challenges, Successes and the Journey Ahead, the conference aims to help address the issues and challenges of rapidly ageing populations in the region. The conference is organised by the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) in collaboration with Sarawak Convention Bureau.
Clinicians from various disciplines, allied health professionals, the legal fraternity, financial institutions, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, policy makers, and housing developers are among stakeholders set to attend the 3 day conference that will include plenaries, workshops, forums and symposia.
The Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society reports that populations in Asia are ageing faster than any other region. Between 2015 and 2034, the older population will grow by about 22 per cent every five years in East Asia. According to the Live Long and Prosper: Ageing in East Asia and Pacific report, by 2060, one of five of the world’s most oldest populated countries will be in East Asia compared to just one in 25 in 2010.
“Managing the issues and challenges of ageing effectively will require a holistic approach” says Organising Chairman of the ASEAN Conference on Healthy Ageing, Professor Nathan Vytialingam. Professor Nathan is also on the advisory council of the Global Coalition on Aging and is an Advisor of the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS).
“The ASEAN Conference on Healthy Ageing will be an ideal platform for stakeholders in the region to gather and discuss these issues and challenges so that the right preparations, policies and framework can be put in place in advance to help prepare their nations for the impact of ageing populations” said Professor Nathan.
The conference boasts an extensive scientific programme that will include lectures, symposia and forums covering age-related illnesses, stress management, addictions and substance abuse, sustainability of retirement and financial health, mental health, adolescent mental health, nutrition, the benefits of exercise and ethico-legal issues at end of life. The programme will also include sessions on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
On the last day of the conference, a consensus will be drawn up on the issues and challenges of ageing faced by the region and a report will be forwarded to the respective ministries.
Dato’ Mahadev Shanker (Former Court of Appeal Judge, Malaysia), Professor Tri Budi W. Rahardjo (Professor in Gerontology, Universitas Indonesia), Emeritus Professor Takeo Ogawa (President, Asian Ageing Business Centre, Japan), Marilyn Pattison (President, World Federation of Occupational Therapy) Dr. Vaikunthan Rajaratnam (Senior Consultant Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore) and Professor Phyo Myint (Chair in Old Age Medicine, University of Aberdeen) are among key speakers at the conference.
CME points will be awarded to all healthcare professionals for attending and the conference is 100% HRDF-SBL claimable.
For registration and more information on the ASEAN Conference on Healthy Ageing, visit www.acha2017.com or call +6012 364 6109.
