Port Louis. The National Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) Strategic and Action Plan 2022-2026 and a ‘Carnet de Santé’ (health card) for the elderly was launched on 23 March 2023 at the Côte d'Or National Sports Complex by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Honorable Pravin Kumar Jugnauth in the presence of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Hon. Kailesh Kumar Jagutpal; the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, Hon. Mrs. Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, the WHO Representative, Dr Anne Ancia and other eminent personalities.
Mauritius health and socio-economic progress of the past decades had a significant, positive impact on life expectancy. Indeed, Mauritius is among the five African countries with the highest life expectancy at birth (73.4 years). Prolonged life expectancy coupled with low fertility rate results in demographic changes and a progressively aging society. The share of the population aged 60 years or above in the total population was 9% in year 2000, 18,7% in year 2021 and is projected to increase to 36.5% in 2061. There is therefore a need to respond to the specific health and social needs of Mauritius growing ageing population.
The integrated care for older people (ICOPE) strategic and action plan 2022-2026 aims at improving health and wellness of older people through prevention, protection and reduction of care dependency and promotion of dignity of life, through community engagement, capacity-building of the workforce and legislative and regulatory improvements. The ICOPE strategy promotes a person-centered integrated and long-term care to address the specific needs of older people where health and social care are facilitated by continuous, multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination among various care providers.
