THEME

Population Ageing and Administrative Countermeasures.

BACKGROUND

TIn Asian countries, ageing is developing rapidly due to the decline of the birth rate. The growth of ageing population means an increasing need for senior citizen support and a shrinking labor force. If social security systems for senior citizens are not in place, the population ageing will have a great social and economic impact. In particular socio-economically weak female senior citizens will suffer seriously.

Japan has kept improving its social security system since World War II, and has provided one of the highest qualities of Social Security Systems for the aged in the world. However, as Japan has become an aged society in a comparatively short time, it now faces various problems. It is expected that the population of 65 years old and over will reach one quarter of the total population by 2015. How to prepare for such a super-ageing society is an urgent issue.

The City of Kobe is no exception. The aged population ratio of Kobe is below average among the nation's cities. However, the recent growth of the ageing population has been faster than before, and the awareness of the necessity to take additional countermeasures is increasing.

Ageing issues require a long term commitment with enough foresight. Policies must be created as soon as possible with due consideration for cultural and social conditions peculiar to each country and each city. This is why AUICK thinks it important for Asian cities to meet to exchange ideas and experiences about the major challenges in the new century.

AIM

1. To give participants basic information on how to grasp the present situation and future prospect of population ageing, analyze its causes and effects, and take countermeasures at an early stage.
2. To give participants an awareness of not only the negative aspects of ageing, but also the positive aspects (for example, utilizing the various abilities and experiences of senior citizens).
3. To give participants basic knowledge to learn what kind of system is best for their own urban community through the comparative study between Japan (including the original unsubsidized policies of the Kobe City Government) and the other Asian countries in the following three fields: (a) Health management for the aged; (b) Assistance and care services for the aged; (c) Livelihood support for the aged (especially the medical insurance and public pension systems). 

PARTICIPANTS

The seminar targeted core officials engaged in population ageing, from 9 selected Asian cities: Chittagong (Bangladesh), Tianjin (China), Chennai (India), Surabaya (Indonesia), Ipoh (Malaysia), Faisalabad (Pakistan), Olongapo (Philippines), Khon Kaen (Thailand), Hai Phong (Vietnam). Eight Cities participated. (In alphabetical order of country's name)

Md Shawkat Mostafa
Senior Assistant Secretary and Private Secretary to Mayor, Chittagong City, Bangladesh

Zou Ming Yu
President of the Tianjin Senior Citizen's Home; Tianjin City, China

Dharmendra Pratap Yadav
Deputy Commissioner-Health of Health & District Family Welfare Bureau, Corporation of Chennai, India

Susilathavy Sabapathy
Medical Officer of Maternal and Child Health Clinic, Health Department ,Ipoh City Council, Malaysia

Mumtaz Ali Cheema
Tehsil Nazim (Mayor) of Tehsil Municipal Administration, Faisalabad Tehsil, Pakistan

Pacita Encina Alcantara
City Health Officer of City Health Department, Olongapo City, Philippines

Prathip Rungphetwong
Chief of Dental Hygiene Section, Health and Environment Division, Khon Kaen Municipality, Thailand

Tran Xuan Luong
Chief of Coordinator Family Planning Service Dpt., Population and Family Planning Committee, Hai Phong City, Vietnam

[Interpreters]

Mao Li
(Dr. Zou Ming Yu's interpreter)

Phan Trong Khanh
(Dr. Tran Xuan Luong's interpreter)

PERIOD

Monday 21October to Friday 1 November 2002

PROGRAM