On 24 and 29 June, technical officers of the WHO Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre – WKC) were invited to share their knowledge and expertise at events of EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Kansai.
Dr Megumi Rosenberg, WKC technical officer, gave a presentation about Healthy Ageing at a symposium organised by the Czech Republic. In the TED-style lightning talk session, she noted that healthy ageing is about making sure that a person has the ability to do the things that are meaningful to them through all stages of life. “Because population ageing is occurring at a faster pace than in the past, countries need to act now to promote healthy ageing, including providing health and long-term care services that are responsive to older people’s needs,” she concluded.
Following the expert talks was a panel discussion on innovations for healthy ageing and a Q&A session, where several students invited from the Kansai region probed the experts and panellists about issues such as outreach to isolated older people or the expected roles and contributions of youth.
On 29 June, Dr Ryoma Kayano, WKC technical officer, joined a panel on “Health and Climate Change: The Greatest Challenge of Our Time” organised by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz, Brazil), a public institution of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Giving examples of drought and food insecurity, and high temperature and increased mosquito-borne diseases, he emphasised that climate change has a real impact on health and even beyond, including poverty and inequalities. “What is important is a risk-based approach and preparedness. Reducing vulnerability and increasing capacity is the key to protecting our health from the climate-related disasters.”
In the Q&A session, he also talked about the importance of integrating mental health interventions into disaster preparedness, and breaking the silo approach and working in collaboration with different sectors.
WKC is a global research centre focusing on health systems responses to accelerate universal health coverage in the context of population ageing, and health emergencies and disaster risk management.