Havana, April 29 (RHC) – The need to give appropriate attention to the aging of the Cuban population is a priority of the Health Ministry, when 18.3 percent of Cubans are over 60 years old and estimates say that by 2025 there will be more senior citizens than children below 14 years of age.

The head of the National Group for the Attention of Senior Citizens, Doctor Alberto Fernandez, told over 200 delegates attending the 7th International Longevity Forum in Havana that Cuba’s demographic situation is an issue of concern, because the productive forces have no replacement guaranteed.

The doctor said that the global fertility rate is reported at 1.73 children per women and the life expectancy of those who reach 60 years of age is another 22 years, while those who reach 80 years can live eight years more.

Cuba is implementing strategies to benefit that population sector, said the doctor and he cites as an example the work of 270 geriatric specialists along with another group of residents in that specialty and a large number of services, including hundreds of nursing homes.