KUWAIT:In a generous invitation from the State of Kuwait, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health hosted a delegation from the Sharjah Social Services Department, represented by the “Sharjah Age-Friendly City” office. The purpose of the visit was to share Sharjah’s experience as the first Arab age-friendly city and to explore initiatives and strategic plans for age-friendly cities.

The delegation was led by Ahmed Al Meel, Director of the Social Services Department in Sharjah, alongside Asma Al Khodari, Director of the “Sharjah Age-Friendly Cities” office. During the meeting, the Sharjah delegation presented the emirate’s efforts and experience in joining the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities, following the directives of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. They also discussed the strategic plan for 2024-2026, highlighting initiatives implemented across Sharjah, and explored how Kuwait could benefit from Sharjah’s experience to join
the global network and implement initiatives that enhance the welfare of Kuwaiti seniors.

Additionally, a workshop was held to prepare the “National Guide for Age-Friendly Cities” aimed at establishing national standards that address the needs of seniors in Kuwait and improve their quality of life. The workshop agenda included reviewing global standards for age-friendly cities and how to implement them in accordance with Kuwaiti laws and regulations.

As part of their collaboration, the Sharjah delegation conducted field visits to various sites providing services for seniors in Kuwait, offering insights and advice on how to develop these services and exchange expertise. These visits highlighted the technical support provided by the “Sharjah Age-Friendly Cities” office, particularly regarding the application of international standards for age-friendly cities.

Ahmed Al Meel expressed his appreciation for Kuwait’s efforts to join the global network of age-friendly cities, praising the robust infrastructure tha
t serves various age groups in Kuwait, which aligns with the international standards of the network. He noted that Kuwait possesses unique qualities that qualify it to be among age-friendly cities, benefiting from best practices and initiatives that positively impact the lives of seniors. He hopes that these experiences will contribute to adapting suitable solutions to enhance the quality of life for seniors.

He affirmed the Social Services Department’s readiness to support Kuwaiti institutions in their quest to become age-friendly cities, emphasising that Sharjah is the only Arab member of the global network and strongly encourages the participation of more Arab cities in this global initiative, which fundamentally serves our elders in the region.

For her part, Ms. Asma Al Khodari detailed the strategic plan for Sharjah’s programme for the years 2024-2026, explaining that the plan includes numerous positive outcomes, such as enhancing community support programs for seniors and providing advanced health and
housing services, along with leveraging the experiences of seniors in the emirate. She added that the office aims to expand the program’s efforts locally and regionally and seeks to attract more Arab cities to join the network.

She expressed the office’s readiness to provide all forms of technical and technological support to their Kuwaiti counterparts to ensure a successful integration into the global network of age-friendly cities.

Dr. Fatima Bin Dhufari, Director of Senior Services at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, emphasised the importance of this workshop in reinforcing Kuwait’s role as a country that cares for seniors, striving to create a suitable environment for them by improving health, social, and community services and infrastructure in line with international standards for age-friendly cities and national legislation for seniors. She noted the ongoing collaboration with the Sharjah Age-Friendly Cities office and highlighted Sharjah’s participation as the first and only Arab city in the global n
etwork, aimed at sharing best practices and initiatives that have positively impacted seniors’ lives in Sharjah, and fostering knowledge exchange between government entities and relevant to enhance the quality of service and welfare for seniors in Kuwait.

Source: Emirates News Agency