Kuwait Receives Insights From Sharjah On Developing Age-Friendly Cities

The Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD), through its Office of Age-Friendly Quality and Health Services, recently conducted a virtual workshop. This event was organised at the request of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health to explore Sharjah's journey in becoming an age-friendly city. The initiative supports Kuwait's ambition to join UNESCO's Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities, a network that Sharjah joined as the first Arab city in 2017.

The SSSD is dedicated to promoting the concept of age-friendly cities and sharing its expertise with regional and international partners. By organising this workshop, the department aims to foster Arab cooperation and provide technical support. This assistance will help other countries adopt global standards in elderly care, enhancing their services for older adults.

Asmaa Al-Khudari, who leads the Office of Age-Friendly Quality and Health Services, noted that Kuwait's Ministry of Health is eager to join the network. The ministry has been actively working on various projects and programmes aimed at supporting the elderly population. Their goal is to integrate these efforts into a unified framework that aligns with international standards.

Al-Khudari mentioned that this workshop marks the second official request from Kuwait's ministry. The purpose is to assist them in implementing age-friendly city standards by sharing Sharjah's successful experience. She emphasised that such workshops are part of SSSD's strategy to enhance knowledge exchange and position Sharjah as a knowledge hub for Arab cities aiming to improve elderly services.

The workshop attracted several officials from Kuwait's Ministry of Health, along with coordinators from both government and private sectors involved in elderly care. A notable group of senior citizens from Kuwait also participated, highlighting the ministry's commitment to incorporating their feedback into future policies.

Al-Khudari expressed her hope that Kuwait will soon join other Arab nations in the global network. She envisions these countries embracing a shared humanitarian vision for improving services for older adults. "I hope to see soon see the State of Kuwait on the list of the global network member cities," she stated.

This collaborative effort underscores both countries' dedication to enhancing quality of life for their ageing populations. By sharing experiences and expertise, they aim to create environments where older adults can thrive with dignity and respect.

With inputs from WAM