MoHAP And WHO Launch Training Programme To Enhance Elderly Care Capacities In The UAE

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) has initiated a three-day training programme in Dubai. This event aims to equip healthcare professionals with skills for implementing the integrated care for older people approach (ICOPE). The programme is part of a national campaign promoting elderly health, aligning with the National Framework for Healthy Ageing 2025–2031.

Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector at MoHAP, highlighted the programme's role in enhancing elderly health. He stated that investing in older people's health is both a humanitarian and national duty, crucial for social cohesion and sustainable development. "When designing this integrated programme, our priority was to leverage the World Health Organisation’s expertise and adapt it to the realities of our national health and social systems," he added.

The training sessions covered various topics, including international experiences and practical simulations of real case studies. Discussions focused on integrating health and social care services to strengthen the healthy ageing system in the UAE. Participants explored integrated care pathways addressing common challenges like cognitive decline, depression, nutrition, mobility issues, and sensory impairments such as hearing and vision loss.

Sessions also included demonstrations of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Participants engaged in knowledge exchange on preparing personalised care plans tailored to individual circumstances through case studies. The UAE presented its future plans to enhance elderly health by developing social support systems and upgrading caregiver skills.

The programme addressed progress towards achieving goals set by the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), a global initiative led by WHO involving governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, and academia. This decade-long initiative focuses on joint action to support healthy lives in older age. Participants examined healthy ageing status in the UAE and Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Hands-on training included using core ICOPE assessment tools to monitor mobility, sensory, and cognitive changes. The sessions aimed at enhancing healthcare specialists' ability to assess physical, cognitive, and psychological capacities of older people. This enables them to develop personalised care plans that improve independence and quality of life.

Commitment to Quality of Life

The UAE's commitment to quality of life is evident through its efforts to empower healthcare and social workforces with modern tools for elderly care. By reinforcing integration across health and social sectors, the country aims to establish itself as a global model for healthy ageing. The programme represents a strategic step towards consolidating leadership in developing forward-looking policies linking these sectors.

This initiative demonstrates MoHAP's dedication to ensuring sustainability of preventive and therapeutic services for the elderly while empowering national cadres with necessary tools. It underscores the importance of establishing holistic, people-centred services that ensure dignity and independence for all older citizens.

With inputs from WAM