Ana Rita’s life has improved since she began attending regular consultations at the local health unit in Assomada, on Santiago Island.
She is resuming a normal life after suffering a stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic and is significantly benefiting from the country’s efforts to improve elderly healthcare.

“I feel well received at this center, where we have our own room, and the attention and care we receive here have a great impact on our health,” says Ana Rita.

Cape Verde’s health and socioeconomic progress over recent decades has had a significant and positive impact on life expectancy, which in 2020 was 75 years. This has been consistently increasing, bringing new challenges to the health system.

The population aged over 60 has been growing — from 7.6% in 2010 to 10.0% in 2021. This group represents a growing share of the burden of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), which account for around 60% of all deaths in the country.

The Strategic Plan for Active Ageing and Elderly Health 2024–2028 aims to improve the health and well-being of older people through prevention, protection, reduced care dependency, and the promotion of dignity in life, with community involvement, workforce capacity building, and legislative and regulatory improvements.

“The leadership of WHO Cape Verde has been essential in implementing the ICOPE strategy, through technical support in adapting and adopting guidelines, and in developing and updating policies and plans aimed at integrated and continuous care throughout life,” says Edith Pereira, Acting Head of WHO Cape Verde.

Since early 2022, experts from the World Health Organization at headquarters and the regional office have been working with the Ministry of Health to develop this evidence- and needs-based strategy to improve the health and well-being of the country’s elderly population.

WHO supports technical training

Doctors, nurses, health agents, formal caregivers, and representatives of elderly care homes — were trained in Gerontology and Geriatrics, a total of 76 professionals with the goal of promoting more integrated elderly healthcare. This training is part of strengthening the implementation of the ICOPE (Integrated Care for Older People) approach.

The training combined theoretical and practical components and included participation from national and international experts in ageing. It also served as a space for sharing best practices among health structures and institutions that host older people, promoting active and healthy ageing.

This initiative was the result of collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the West African Health Organization (WAHO).

During the event, three new tools were presented to strengthen public intervention policies in this area:

• Elderly Vaccination Guide
• Elderly Health Booklet
• Strategic Plan for Active and Healthy Ageing 2024–2028

These documents were developed with technical assistance from WHO and are aligned with the United Nations’ Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 guidelines.