Blogs

DRC crisis: Older people and a lifetime of conflict

In August, I visited the HelpAge office in Goma, DRC. What struck me immediately was the tight security around the town. I realised that people there live with extreme caution. During my visit, I went to Mugunga refugee camp....

Gaza conflict and the impact on older people’s health

The situation in Gaza has been unimaginable. We have been living under fire, not being able to sleep, leave our homes or even go to the shops. Every minute you would expect an air rocket or a bomb and...

Nowhere in Gaza is safe

It was Wednesday 14 November in the morning and all the HelpAge team members in Gaza were happy because we had the next three days off work for Palestinian Independence Day. It meant we could relax and plan nice...

World Diabetes Day in Kyrgyzstan

Each year, World Diabetes Day (WDD) is marked on 14 November - a day devoted to fighting and raising awareness of diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes has become the third main cause of human deaths...

Meeting the campaigners who make Age Demands Action

For a Campaigns Coordinator, it is a dream come true to meet the faces behind our Age Demands Action campaign. In October, I travelled to Nairobi in Kenya to meet our activists who, for the past two years, have...

Promising signs from UNAIDS to include HIV care and support

Care and support is one of the crucial pillars of a comprehensive response to HIV, alongside prevention and treatment. Yet care and support for people with HIV and their carers and families, has long been neglected, particularly in the...

World Diabetes Day: The effect on older people in Africa

14 November is World Diabetes Day, a disease which according to the World Health Organization (WHO), affects more than 180 million people worldwide. WHO also estimates that the prevalence of diabetes in Africa varies between one and 20%. The...