Young Filipino leaders in healthcare undergo training in Japan to innovate elderly care in the Philippines

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has concluded its training program for young Filipino professionals from the health sector to boost human resource development in the Philippines in social welfare and nursing care for the elderly.

The "Young Leaders" (YL) training under the JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) sent 12 young professionals to develop their technical knowledge and skills through cooperative programs that discuss the sectoral foundations of Japanese society. They visited the local governments of Niseko and Toya towns, Sapporo Medical University, as well as HARELU Miyanomori Elderly Housing, both in Hokkaido, Japan. They learned about Japan's latest technologies and practices that are catered to support the country's elderly population.

"With the increasing life expectancy of our generation, there are soaring needs for social welfare services catering to the elderly. This is also a very much critical issue in Japan, and the training will share Japan's innovation and systems supporting the elderly, especially at this time our lives are normalizing after the COVID-19 pandemic," said Chief Representative SAKAMOTO Takema.

The Philippines has a relatively young population, belonging to the 15-30 years old age group. Senior citizens, or those whose age are 60 and above compose 8% of the population.

JICA recognizes that the COVID-19 added pressure to Filipino health workers and that the study-visit in Japan offered the Filipino participants an opportunity to rethink ways to improve their work. They are expected to be the "frontliners" who will contribute to formulating strategies for the improvement of the Philippines' social welfare sector for the elderly through their respective designations. This will benefit the Philippines as it transitions toward an ageing society by 2030 to 2035.

Furthermore, they are also expected to be strong bridges between two amicable countries with the spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding. "They are ‘Grassroots Ambassadors' who will continue to bridge the Philippines and Japan closer through their work with the knowledge they received from their training in Japan," SAKAMOTO added.

YL Trainees learning practical nursing care skills at Yoshida Gokuen School

KCCP-Young Leaders participants