Press release:
CommonAge – The Commonwealth Association for the Ageing joins forces with Standards Wise International
in supporting Brunei Darussalam on Healthy Ageing on the occasion of
A Conversation: Commonwealth Health, Ageing & Longevity
a follow-up from the
Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting
in Geneva, May 2023
Bandar Seri Begawan, 26 October 2023 With the global population now exceeding 8 billion, more complex issues and challenges have emerged, resulting from both the rapidly ageing and younger populations. The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a reminder of the importance of health and preparedness to everyone, society, and the economy as a whole, particularly older and young people.
The current demographic patterns are interesting because they show how the present and the future are connected. For example, today’s kindergarteners are tomorrow’s mothers, and today’s workers are tomorrow’s older people (and retirees). We will know a little bit about the future from every current population snapshot today.
CommonAge – The Commonwealth Association for the Ageing, with the support of Standards Wise International (SWI) organised a private conversation in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam at the Radisson Brunei on 26 October 2023.
The event was attended by ministers and senior officials from five ministries:
(1) Health; (2) Culture, Youth, and Sports (with the portfolio of older persons, youth, and social welfare); (3) Home Affairs; (4) Education; and (5) Finance and Economy.
Image: Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia, Dr Haji Md Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health, Brunei Darussalam, Chair, Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health (CACH), joined by:
Yang Mulia Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Khalifah bin Pengiran Ismail, Director General Medical & Health Services (Chair of CACH in November)
Yang Mulia Dr Ang Swee Hui, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional)
Yang Mulia Tuan Haji Maswadi Bin Mohsin, Permanent Secretary (Policy & Management)
Invitees include High Commissioners of several Commonwealth countries; international and regional institutions and NGOs: the International Institute on Ageing United Nations – Malta; Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) – Asia Pacific; ASEAN on Women’s Rights; Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Osaka University; and collaborative partners.
Also attending are selected experts on ageing and dementia who are in Brunei for the ADI Asia Pacific Regional Conference hosted by demensia Brunei from 27-29 October 2023.
Brunei Darussalam was announced as the Chair of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health (CACH) for a two-year term at the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) in Geneva in May 2023.
CACH comprises a group of experts at the centre of the Commonwealth governance structure and policy cycle. CACH links programmatic discussions of the Commonwealth Secretariat with policy priorities for Commonwealth Health Ministers and liaises with senior officials to bridge this process.
The objective and outcome from this conversation is for the government of Brunei Darussalam and CACH to encourage greater emphasis on ageing and healthy ageing — for older people (diagnosis, management and support) and young people (early intervention). There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and it is important that such social change is compatible with the country’s culture, and what works on the ground for their populations. CommonAge works with and beyond the 56 countries of the Commonwealth, when invited by civil society organisations and governments.
Brunei now plays a pivotal role in shaping how CACH takes its work forward.
This conversation is a follow-up to the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) in Geneva in May this year. The conversation maximises on the opportunity of the presence of experts in the fields on ageing and dementia (including young people and CommonAge youth ambassadors on dementia) to share their insights and future priorities on healthy ageing and dementia strategies and/or plans.
Healthy populations are a boost to a country’s economy. Young people today will be the older people of tomorrow. We need to get it right today to support our future generations to age as healthily as possible.
A proposed report on Dementia in the Commonwealth has been approved. We plan for it to be completed by April and presented at the CHMM 2024 in Geneva in May, and, at the Commonwealth People’s Forum at the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 Samoa in October.
The Commonwealth comprises 56 member countries and a population of 2.6 billion where the majority are lower and middle income countries (LMIC) in Africa, the Caribbean, and small island states.
‘Business as usual’ and working in silos cannot continue when a life approach to healthy ageing, mental wellbeing, and risk-reducing dementia is the goal.
Mr Andrew Larpent OBE, the Chair of CommonAge — The Commonwealth Association for the Ageing, says: It is a genuine pleasure to be able to visit Brunei Darussalam for these important meetings. We greatly appreciate the hospitality and interest shown by government and other key stakeholders in our conversations.
Our efforts join governments, civil society, businesses, and other organisations around the world in the pledge to take meaningful action to improve the lives of older people, their families and communities.
We are passionate advocates for all nations to respect the rights and dignity of older citizens and to join in the call for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons (UNCROP).
The events in Brunei Darussalam this week are also a significant opportunity to raise awareness and to promote the need for recognised standards for aged care and seniors living services as a key foundation stone for the establishment of social care infrastructure for the country.
Our hope is to ensure that the door is opened for Brunei Darussalam to follow in with a proposal for the adoption and implementation of formal standards as investment in care services gets underway. This is a rare opportunity to get in right at the start of infrastructure development, to ensure that standards are embedded in the design and delivery of care services.
Datin Jacqueline Wong, Board Director of CommonAge and Hon. Advisor of demensia Brunei shares: Healthy ageing and longevity is a holistic approach: education, health, food, social, work, retirement, pensions, and investments.
We have to look at a healthy ageing population through an intergenerational lens. From a positive perspective, a healthy and more engaged generation of older people (over age 65) have the potential to contribute broadly, whether it’s at a professional, personal, or community level.
Brunei cares for the aged, people living with dementia and disabilities at home as there are no long-term aged care residential or facility currently. There is a crucial need to look into setting up infrastructures which include ageing and palliative care. This is where care standards and services need to be set right from the drawing board.
If we are able to engage with Brunei Darussalam, the Chair of CACH about rethinking and reimagining health, wellbeing and longevity, it could reap some really meaningful results – for Brunei as well as for the 56 Commonwealth countries, and beyond.
Image: HE Mr John Virgie British High Commissioner, HE Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty Secretary General of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and Puan Suryanti binti Haji Mohamed, Special Duties Officer representing the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs.
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