The Ministry of health, took part in a workshop at the University of Nicosia as part of its drive to develop a national strategy for improving the lives of the elderly.

The aim of the workshop was the exchange of knowledge and experience in the framework of the development of a national strategy for the health of older people.

The permanent secretary of the health ministry, Dr Christina Yiannaki, who opened Friday’s workshop, said this was “an initiative of the ministry of health that will contribute decisively to a more systematized and improved provision of services to the elderly,” Giannaki said.

The workshop focused on four main issues, concerning prevention of illness, promotion of healthy aging, friendly environment for the elderly and research and education, for which working groups would be set up.

“Through the national strategy under development, the ministry of health aims to identify key issues on which actions are needed, aiming at prevention and healthy aging of the population, the provision of the best quality health services to the elderly, the improvement of living conditions, and the way of life of the elderly population,” said Yiannaki.

The number of the elderly was steadily rising said Yiannaki.

“The continuous improvement of living conditions and the upgraded health care offered have resulted in an increase in the life expectancy of the population, with the number of elderly people projected to double to 1.5 billion (globally) by 2050,” said Yiannaki.