THE representatives of UN agencies and the Pan-American Health Organization acknowledged the success of the Cuban public health system during the opening of the 3rd International Conference on Satisfactory Longevity, attended by scientists from 10 nations.

Serguey Zelenev, head of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), affirmed during a master lecture that Cuba is an example of how the economy and social aspects may be related to the benefit of longevity. The speaker stressed the necessary living conditions for older adults, including adequate nutrition, physical exercise, culture, a favorable environment, motivation and appropriate and timely medical attention. He noted that malnutrition increases the risk of common diseases, an affirmation supported by other speakers.

On analyzing the longevity issue in Latin America, Doctor Martha Peláez, regional advisor for aging and health for the Pan-American Health Organization, recalled that some years ago, the UN called attention to the changed paradigm needed by society, in the context of older people continuing to participate actively in life. And to consider what we can all do to live all of those years that we can.

She noted that during the 1940s, the life expectancy rate did not exceed 50 years, but that it has increased in line with scientific advances. She added that at the ages of 60, 80 or 90, one must make a great effort to keep in shape physically and to remain socially active, because society still has not learned to compensate and create natural spaces for older adults to continue living in a useful way.

After highlight the efforts in Cuba for older adults, she emphasized that "it is important to us to measure how one reaches an advanced age, not just that we get there."

Dr. Peláez announced that in the year 2000, two million people in the Americas had reached the age of 90 or more, and that it is projected for the years 20-50 of this century that some 14 million people on the continent will live to be 90. Of those, 689,000 will live to 100. "We have a long way to go," she affirmed.

A broad picture of medical care in Cuba was provided by Doctor José Ramón Balaguer, minister of public health, who during his master’s lecture highlighted the program to modernize hospitals, polyclinics and other medical centers. He affirmed that today in Cuba, there are 69,713 physicians, with 47.4% of them working as family doctors.

He pointed out the internationalist character of the island’s medical personnel, and announced that during the present year, more than 1,500 students will graduate from the Latin American School of Medicine.

Balaguer also explained that in Cuba, there are 434 multidisciplinary groups for geriatric care, and more than 710,000 elderly people who are members of senior citizen centers. He added that a primary care system is being implemented to prioritize disease prevention and patient rehabilitation.

Cuba is showing that a lot can be done with few resources in public health, he stated.

Alberto Juantorena, the outstanding Cuban athlete and current vice president of INDER, offered an enjoyable lecture on the development of the sports movement in Cuba, which more than winning medals at international competitions, seeks to make sports practiced in a mass way in order to contribute to the Cuban people’s health.

During the second day of activities, the delegates are to consider what may be done to develop intelligence beginning early in life; motivating via pyschoballet and gardening; roundtable discussions on asthma, hypertension, obesity and diabetes, and other issues.