By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a new technical advisory group (TAG) on measurement, monitoring and evaluation of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030).Â
The multidisciplinary group of 20 experts will review and assess evidence and provide recommendations to advance the measurement work related to the United Nations (UN) Decade of Healthy Ageing and its four action areas.
The four action areas are: “a) change how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing, b) ensure that communities foster the abilities of older people, c) deliver person-centered integrated care and primary health services that are responsive to older people; and d) provide access to long-term care for older people who need it,” according to WHO.
WHO provided the above information on 25th January 2022 in a release titled: “WHO Establishes a Technical Group on Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation on UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.”
Within its normative function, WHO provides evidence-informed guidance to Member States to improve the health and well-being of older people.Â
The Technical Advisory Group will specifically advise WHO in the following areas: “1. development of existing and new indicators for monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing at all levels (global, regional , national and local).
“2. proposed methods for producing global, regional and national, and subnational estimates linked to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing;
“3. measurement and operationalisation of new and existing indicators (e.g. on intrinsic capacity, functional ability and environments) linked to the Decade actions areas and related programmes or initiatives;
“4. standardization of measures, modes of data collection, data harmonization for comparability, data analysis across all indicators for the Decade of Healthy Ageing and guidance for decision making and capacity building in these areas at the country level,” WHO listed in the news statement.
To support the TAG and coordinate the measurement activities across the UN, WHO also established a steering group with representatives from UN agencies and other international organizations.
The steering group includes representatives from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
