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LA HABANA, Cuba (Prensa Latina), September 17, 2008:

The growing aging of the Latin America and Caribbean population is requiring a defined government policy to face such phenomenom, Doctor Alberto Fernandez, Director of the National Program for Elder People in Cuba warned on Wednesday.

In an international congress on Gerontology and Geriatrics (GERONTOGER 2008) being held in this capital now, Fernandez pointed out that one out of each four Latin Americans and Caribbean will be more than 60 years old in the year 2050.

The same way, he assured that only some countries of the region have established clear strategies on this topic.

The population of Cuba is in the last stage of the aging process, the Cuban specialist said.

He also pointed out that Cuba has trained for 20 years in taking care of elder people and training public health special personnel to take care of elder people. Cuba counts on a number of 260 geriatrics specialists now.

Besides multi-discipline teams have been created and a culture on Gerontology and Geriatrics is fostered in public health professionals.

These things give a progress to the Cuban public health system to satisfy the needs of elder people, and the process will keep on affecting governments, societies and communities, so sustained work is quite important, he said.

Cuba and Barbados are the oldest Latin American and Caribbean countries. Cuba, with a population near to 11 million inhabitants, has now more than 1.8 million elder people.

GERONTOGER 2008 will be in session at the Havana Convention Center until September 19, with the participation of delegates from Mexico, Spain, Paraguay, Venezuela and Cuba.

Related Report

Gerontology, Geriatrics Event in Cuba

LA HABANA (Prensa Latina), September 16, 2008:)

Aging, primary health care and geriatric surgery are important issues to debate in the Seventh National Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics "Gerontoger 2008," starting Tuesday in this capital.

Experts from different branches are meeting at Havana's International Conference Center until September 16 to analyze medical issues of aging.

Parallel to this gathering is the Sixth International Meeting of Senior Citizens, where participants will present experiences aimed at improving elderly people's quality of life.

Workshops, panels, conferences, poster sessions, videos and symposiums are part of the working agenda of delegates.

Also included is a sports festival named "White Hairs Carnival," with typical dances from each country, as well as tours of geriatric centers, exchanging with students from the school of elderly people and the 120 Years Club.

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