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Ageing in Albania by Mira Pirdeni It was the global movement on ageing in 1999, when the United Nations proclaimed the year as the International Year of Older Persons (IYOP), which gave birth to the Albanian Society for All Ages (ASAG). Our mission is to work with and for older people in Albania to achieve a lasting improvement in the quality of their lives. In April 2002 came the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) and in September that year, in Berlin, the Ministerial Conference on Ageing took place and focused on the "Regional Implementation Strategy for MIPAA". In this conference it was agreed that the implementation of the MIPAA begin with Europe and as part of the region, Albania and other countries endorsed the plan. Since this time, despite the good will, we still lack necessary infrastructure and older people in Albanian society today, continue to face many obstacles. - Older people comprise 10.2% of the population - Prior to the 1990's pension values equaled 70% of the average salary, however today the value is only 30%. - The field of geriatrics and gerontology is not included in University teaching programmes and curricula. - Geriatric specialist services are lacking in primary care and hospital settings. - Community and residential care services for aged people are very limited. - There are no structures within Government to encourage and support services, programmes and policies that will improve the quality of life for our older citizens. Despite the lack of State infrastructure, local bodies, donors and the tragic events in Kosovo ASAG recognizes and understands the needs of the Albanian older people. ASAG is determined to enhance the recognition and dignity of older people, to eliminate forms of neglect and to create the legal basis and appropriate environment for the implementation of the MIPAA. In March this year as part of International Women's Day, ASAG held a workshop entitled "Every Woman has a Voice". Read the Report Pass your comments to Mira Pirdeni via email at: asag@gmx.net Source : www.ifa-fiv.org     By Mira Pirdeni Date 18-04-2008   Print this article | React to this article