PENANG TO HOST 3RD ACHA

GEORGE TOWN, Penang is set to host the 3rd ASEAN Conference on Healthy Ageing 2024 (3rd ACHA 2024) from July 30 to Aug 1, offering a unique opportunity to share, interact, collaborate, and obtain hands-on skills from healthcare experts in ageing from all disciplines. Carrying the theme "Ageing Successfully - Equitably, Actively and Naturally," the conference aims to forge a path toward understanding and addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by an ageing population. Organising Chairperson of the 3rd ACHA 2024 and Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) president Prof Dr Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman said organised by the MHAS, the conference will see as many as 22 international speakers, 38 Malaysian speakers and 500 over delegates participating in the three-day programme. "As we enter the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging, the 3rd ACHA 2024 for Healthy Ageing aims to provide an active platform for healthcare professionals, healthy ageing advocates, the industry as well as community within the AS EAN region. "To present their latest work, meet, discuss and network with colleagues from the region and abroad to share the best practices and know-how for the betterment of healthy ageing and the older population in the region" she said in statement, today. Shahrul Bahyah said that programmes have been arranged to cater to different expectations and aspirations of the delegates. She added that symposiums focusing on special population, lessons from the pandemic, digital health, lifestyle interventions as well as many other interesting sessions are carefully crafted to maximise learning opportunities. "With an excellent line-up of international and local speakers, we strongly believe that there is something in store for everyone attending this conference,"she said. She said this is delivered via special lectures, workshops, seminars as well as a pre-conference workshop where medical professionals and community members will continue to learn, enhance, and enrich their knowledge which will translate to be tter and improved care for older persons. On Malaysia's preparedness for an ageing population, Shahrul Bahyah, who is also a Professor of Geriatric Medicine at Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya said that the country is starting to show signs of investments into the future of our old age. She said the latest efforts by the government via the World Bank to create a national blueprint on ageing is one of many efforts to prepare for this dan she believes MHAS can do more and call on all ministries and relevant stakeholders to promote the agenda for our ageing nation. This type of conference, she said, is one of many efforts aimed at creating education, awareness and learning opportunities at every level of healthcare professionals and the many related disciplines as well as other stakeholders. "We do this by bringing all relevant stakeholders together to create an 'age friendly' ecosystem within our healthcare system and community," she added. She also thanked the Penang state government and the Ministr y of Health for the support shown for the 3rd ACHA 2024 and expressed hope that other ministries, particularly government agencies involved in the care of the country's elderly citizens will send representatives. "Delegates will greatly benefit from the wealth of knowledge that will be shared by internationally renowned speakers on a wide range of topics on ageing" she said. Source: BERNAMA News Agency