Moldova has enough opportunities to prevent consequences of aging population
- 16.12.2008 12:51
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- 3 minute(s)
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Moldova has enough opportunities to prevent the consequences of the phenomenon of an aging population, Boris Galca, the Representative of the UN Fund for Population (UNFPA) in Moldova, said when presenting a study “The third transaction” of aging population from Eastern Europe of the former USSR.” The Romanian version appeared in Chisinau with the support of UNFPA.
According to Info-Prim Neo, the study represents a vast analysis of the aging phenomenon of the people from Eastern Europe and the CIS, including Moldova.
Thus, in accordance with the study, the Moldovan population will reduce 7%, that is 300 thousand people, till 2025. People aged over 65 will constitute 16% of the population, compared to 10% in 2000. The active population, aged 15-64 years will stand at 67% , but it could dwindle, depending on the fluctuation of work migration.
The study says that people’s aging is also specific for Western countries, and it is a dramatic problem, especially for Eastern Europe, where the phenomenon is doubled due to people’s low incomes, and to the lack of social policies and adequate services, promoted in relation with this category of people.
In spite of these assessments and, especially due to the economic results, related to dismissing aged people before their retiring time, on the background of the reduced birth rate, Boris Galca says that Moldova can avoid a crisis situation.
He argued his opinion with the fact that there were high quality specialists in the state institutions, who realize the seriousness of these problems. The National Commission for People and Development has been working very efficiently lately. The National Network of social assistants has been created and these persons are permanently trained. There is a nucleus of scientists from the Academy of Sciences, ASEM, the Academy of Public Administration and the Institute of Finances and Statistics, which study the phenomenon of aging and seek solutions. There are also efficient NGOs, dealing with such problems.
“Unfortunately, these entities are not interconnected with the government, for the time being, but we hope to do this in the near future. Moldova also has secular traditions of caring for old people in families, in communities, and we must use them,”- Galca stated.
Sergiu Sainciuc, the deputy minister of economy and trade, said that the people’s Green Book is being worked out in Moldova . The document has the goal to inform decision makers on the demographic problems the Moldovan society faces at present and the consequences upon health, education, social protection.
The data and conclusions contained in this work were the basis of the national Strategy Project in the demographic security sector for the next 15 years (2009 - 2023). The Project has many parts, including the ones dealing with the labor market, migration, and other 10 monitoring indices. Soon this project will be proposed at a governmental sitting.
According to a study, made previously by the International Institute for Systems of Applied Analysis in Venice, the Moldovan population will constitute 1.5 million inhabitants in 2130, compared to about 4 million, presently, on both banks of the Nistru. The elderly people will represent 25-26% of the population.
