The 16th Global Conference on Ageing is just around the corner, and this year's event promises to be one of the most informative and engaging yet.
Taking place in Bangkok, Thailand from June 27-30, the conference will explore a range of key themes that are essential to promoting healthy ageing in the 21st century.
These themes include the use of digital technologies to improve healthcare outcomes, the specific health needs of older women, strategies for maintaining and improving function, the importance of immunisation, and the creation of age-friendly environments.
With expert speakers and panel discussions, the conference is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the latest thinking on ageing and health. Register now to secure your place!
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Sponsorship Opportunities |
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The 16th Global Conference presents an exceptional opportunity for organizations to align their brand with a highly reputable and globally recognized platform for ageing issues. As a sponsor of this prestigious event, your organization will have the chance to showcase your commitment to advancing the field of ageing and connect with leaders, experts, and influencers from around the world. With a variety of sponsorship packages available, we invite interested organizations to explore this unique opportunity and join us in shaping the future of healthy ageing. |
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We are thrilled to extend an invitation to submit abstracts for our forthcoming conference! If you are a researcher, practitioner, or student with knowledge in the field of ageing, we encourage you to share your research, innovations, and perspectives with our community. This is your chance to present your work on an international stage and contribute to advancing knowledge and solutions for ageing populations. Join us in propelling the field forward and making a meaningful impact. |
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The DR Barometer Program in Columbia
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The Barometer Program was featured at the 11th Columbian Association of Retina and Vitreous (ACOREV) International Congress in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on 16–18 March. As part of the IFA’s work on the DR Barometer Program, IFA visited Colombia to meet with ophthalmologists and present on the work of the DR Barometer in improving patient-centred vision care for people with diabetes. IFA also welcomed Colombian retinal specialists to a country workshop to deep dive into how the Barometer Program can support shaping local practice and policy.
Stay tuned for more updates on the work of the DR Barometer Program, and insights and action from in-country work.
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Shingles Awareness Week:
Reaching Audiences across the Globe
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The International Federation on Ageing (IFA), in collaboration with GSK, hosted Shingles Awareness Week this February 27 – March 05. |
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The objective was to raise awareness and educate people on the debilitating impact of shingles, an illness that 1 in 3 people will develop in their lifetime.
IFA’s Secretary General Jane M Barratt, Ph.D. caught up with UK celebrity and TV presenter Eamonn Holmes OBE, who shared his own experience of shingles – the misconceptions, symptoms, and the life moments he missed due to the debilitating pain of the disease.
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The campaign was an incredible success, bringing together partners from across the globe, with an estimated reach of well over 2 billion! across all media and social media activities.
We are incredibly thankful to all of you who supported the campaign in achieving such amazing results, helping many across the world understand the risks of shingles.
We look forward to next year and hope you’ll support us so warmly again for Shingles Awareness Week 2024!
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13th Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG13) |
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The 13th Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing will take place from 3-6 April 2023, with a focus on strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons. The working group will discuss normative inputs and follow up on the focus areas of the twelfth session, with the aim of identifying possible gaps in the existing international framework and considering the feasibility of further instruments and measures to address them. This interactive expert panel discussion is an important step towards ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of human rights for older persons worldwide. |
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IFA celebrates World Immunization Week 2023 |
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Immunization is regarded as a key development in contemporary medicine and one of the most effective public health strategies in history. To accelerate rapid progress in countries to get back on track to ensure more people are protected from preventable diseases, World Immunization Week is being held 24 – 30 April with the theme of “The Big Catch Up”.
Vaccination saves lives, promotes well-being, and protects functional ability throughout life, allowing people to be and do what they have reason to value. The International Federation on Ageing, through its Vaccines4Life portfolio, works to improve rates of vaccination globally and throughout the life-course, as a key contributor to healthy ageing.
Follow @Vaccines4Life to like, share and join in the call to action to prioritize vaccination for all.
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Understanding (Person) Patient Experience ECHO |
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The goal of the (Person) Patient Experiences ECHO program within the Adult Vaccination Education Program (AVEP) is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence vaccine-related decisions and to identify practical solutions to overcome barriers that hinder uptake rates. By gaining insights into patient (person) experiences, this program aims to drive policy actions that promote increased vaccination rates and ultimately improve public health outcomes. |
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Biosimilars Survey
A recent survey by the IFA and the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) sought to understand the attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of 41 Canadian ophthalmologists toward biosimilar medications.
The Ontario government announced that beginning March 31st, it would require thousands of patients to switch from their current, physician-prescribed biologic medicines to a government-preferred biosimilar, However findings from the study reveal that 81% of ophthalmologists were not comfortable with the government switching patients for non-medical reasons. Ninety percent of respondents said that having sole authority, with the patient, to decide which biologic medicine to use is very important or critical.
In contrast to Ontario, some other provinces are adopting an approach used in Western Europe which encourages physicians to prescribe lower-cost biosimilars to new patients, but ultimately hold the authority to choose between treatments, upholding patient-physician choice.
There is a need to draw attention to the forced substitution of treatment on the sole basis of economic savings to ensure choice of treatment is based on an informed discussion between the patient and their prescribing physician focused on treatment goals, safety, efficacy, and associated risks.
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Discover the latest findings from the International Federation on Ageing's (IFA) recent study on Evidence to Action:
A Review of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs).
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