Beijing, China — H.E. Ms Bongi Maria Ntuli, Deputy Minister of the Department of Social Development, Ministry of Social Development, South Africa launched the “Global Commission on Ageing in Developing Countries” in presence of H.E. Mr. Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Government of the Republic of Uganda, Board Member, Partners in Population and Development (PPD) and H.E. Dr David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa Honorable Minister, Ministry Of Health And Child Welfare Government of Zimbabwe, Board Member, (PPD) on 24 October 2013 in Beijing, China.
In her launching speech H.E. Ms Bongi Maria Ntuli mentioned that the population aged 60 or over is currently growing at a faster rate than any other age group, and by 2050 there will be more people worldwide in the age group over 60 years than children aged under 14 years. She expressed her concern that about 80 % of that elderly citizen of the globe will be living in developing countries, when the estimate would be over 57% for the 25 member countries of PPD. She mentioned the importance of the preparedness and improving the ability of developing countries to provide social protection,health care and income security for the growing numbers of their older citizens.
Launching of the Global Commission on Ageing in Developing Countries, 24 Oct 2013, Beijing, China
She congratulated and thanked PPD for taking the very timely and welcomed initiative to establish the Commission with a goal to enable gender, equity and rights based policies and programming for improving the quality of life of the ageing population in developing countries including the 25 member countries PPD. She also thanked the World Health Organization (WHO) for its commitment to provide technical support to the Commission.
She urged the donors, UN agencies, private sectors and foundations, regional groups, North countries, PPD member countries and other developing countries to support the Commission in fulfilling its roles of guiding the developing countries to address gender, rights and equity based social protection, health care and income security of the growing ageing populations.
Launching of the Global Commission on Ageing in Developing Countries, 24 Oct 2013, Beijing, China
Present at the occasion were, PPD Board Members and PPD Partners Country Coordinators, Senior Government Officials of PPD member countries, Commissioners and Resource Persons of the Global Commission on Ageing in Developing Countries, Dr. John Beard, Director, Department of Ageing and Life Course, World Health Organization, Dr. Islene Araujo de Carvalho, Senior Policy and Strategy Adviser, Department of Ageing and Life Course, World Health Organization, Dr. Joe Thomas, Executive Director, PPD, and other dignitaries.