Event highlights
At the 30th Annual Meeting of the WHO Regions for Health Network (RHN), subnational leaders across Europe took another step toward making the forthcoming “WHO European Strategy on Ageing is Living: Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Well-being (2026–2030)” a practical reality on the ground.
Building on their previous contributions to the proposed actions, RHN members shifted focus to implementation. In an interactive session co-led by Yongjie Yon (Technical Officer, Ageing and Health, WHO/Europe), Elisabeth Bengtsson (Senior Consultant, WHO RHN), Olga Manukhina (Communications Officer, WHO Country Office in the Russian Federation) and Naiara Artaza Aristondo (Director General for Longevity and Demographic Challenge, Department of Social Action – Provincial Council of Bizkaia, Spain), participants exchanged experiences and ideas on how to turn strategic ambitions into local results.
Discussions centred on actionable ways to integrate prevention, reshape care, foster enabling environments and address ageism – highlighting local solutions that can drive change across systems and settings. The session also explored the adaptation of WHO technical guidance and tools into practical formats for regional use.
Participants also explored one of the strategy’s key enablers: leadership and capacity development. The Leadership Course on Ageing is Living, co-developed with the Government of Bizkaia and WHO/Europe, was presented as a flagship leadership course to build public sector leadership, strengthen intersectoral collaboration and shift the narrative around ageing from burden to potential.
“This is not a side conversation – regional action is central to the success of the strategy. Regions are where ageing policies come to life,” said Yongjie Yon.
The session underscored the essential role of RHN members as drivers of transformation for healthy ageing and long-term care. WHO/Europe will continue collaborating with RHN regions to support implementation across all 53 Member States.