WHO celebrates birthday, commemorates World Health Day with focus on healthy aging

The WHO on April 7 celebrated the founding of the organization in 1948 and World Health Day, "by focusing on aging, including a host of events, research and information under the theme, 'Good health adds life to years,'" CNN reports (4/7). "Contrary to common perceptions, the WHO reports by 2050, 80 percent of the world's older people will be living in low-and middle-income countries -- not in the wealthier nations," and "a new analysis shows the key reasons for ill health in older people are from non-communicable diseases," VOA News writes (Schlein, 4/7).

"'I urge governments, civil society and the private sector to commit attention and resources to ensuring that people everywhere have the chance to grow older in good health,' [U.N.] Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement," United Press International notes, adding, "The incidence of non-communicable diseases in low-income countries is two to three times greater than in high-income countries, Ban said" (4/7). Last week, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan "underscored that the incidence of non-communicable diseases in older people require a shift in focus from providing care for a single disease to providing good health in the face of multiple diseases," according to the U.N. News Centre (4/6).