Croatia

Events to celebrate World Health Day and focus attention on this year’s theme of health and ageing were organized throughout April 2012 in Croatia.

Culminating these efforts was a high-level scientific symposium on 19 and 20 April at the Croatian Gerontology and Geriatrics School, located in the capital city of Zagreb. The meeting was organized among others by the Ministry of Health, the Andrija Štampar School of Public Health of the Zagreb Medical School, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Croatian Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics.

The Croatian Gerontology and Geriatrics School was chosen as the venue for the symposium because its programmes target physicians who are working to protect the health of older persons. It supports physicians in Croatia, but also in neighbouring countries.

The project coordinator for the meeting was Dr Spomenka Tomek-Roksandic, Head of the Ministry of Health’s Referral Centre for the Protection of Older Persons’ Health.

Other events

5 April

  • Press conference and announcement of Public Health Champions for 2011. Dr Darko Breitenfeld received an award for the most successful treatment of alcoholism in Zagreb.
  • Open day at the SUVAG clinic. Attendees were informed about early and late symptoms of hearing loss, characteristics of hearing impairment caused by ageing, tests for the identification of hearing impairment and the importance and possibilities of rehabilitation. SUVAG Clinic for Speech and Hearing Rehabilitation.
  • Activities organized for users of the Care Home for Elderly People Maksimir, including morning exercise, golf, recreational exercise in the Enhanced Care Unit, senior dance, and recreational group Kozjak. City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities.
  • "Towards a Healthy Spring" project. Residents of the Gerontology Centre / Retirement Home Pescenica and Sesvete walked through Maksimir Park and engaged in physical exercises under the  professional guidance of a physiotherapist. Promotion of autobiography of a 92-year-old resident. City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities.
  • Joint physical exercise for residents of Sv. Ana Care Home for Elderly People and beneficiaries of the Gerontology Centre. Health forum on Diabetes, City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities.

6 April

  • Health forum on hypertension. City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities.
  • Walk in Ribnjak Park with residents of the Medvescak Care Home for Elderly People. City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities.

7 April

  • Free massage given to the Zagreb City citizens in the city centre. Association of Therapists.

10 April

  • Lecture: “I care about my heart”. Polyclinic for Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention and Rehabilitation.

14 April

  • Lecture: “Quality of life in older people”. City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities. 
  • "Let's play soundly". Outdoor games including tying a large knot, ring toss, polygon, volleyball, scouting games in the quarters of Kajzerica, Laniste, Savski gaj. Scout Detachment "Savski gaj".

17 April

  • Lecture: “Coronary heart disease - risk factors“. Polyclinic for Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention and Rehabilitation.

18 April

  • Lecture: “Safety and security of older persons in road traffic" (intended for all interested citizens), with professional support from Dr Ivana Brkic, epidemiologist from the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Injury Prevention Department. Croatian Catholic Society of Nurses and Technicians.
  • Weighing, nutritionist tips, nutrition questionnaire, presentation of the counselling service for older persons. Obesity Prevention Society.
  • Presentation of the Institution for Health Care at Home, distribution of educational and informational brochures, interactive workshops - exercises for health prevention (intended for all interested citizens). Institution for Health Care at Home.
  • Measurement of bone density, densitometry - medical advice, intended for persons 65+ who have not been diagnosed with osteoporosis, and lecture on the prevention of osteoporosis (intended for all interested citizens). Croatian Osteoporosis Society.

19 April

  • Workshops on exercises for urinary incontinence and obesity prevention. "Promjena" - Society of Health Education and Health Promotion.
  • Lecture: “Safety and protection of older persons in public transport”, with professional support from Dr. Razic, occupational medicine physician from the Health Centre Zagreb City – Centre. City Office for the Strategic Planning and Development of the City, with partners, within the framework of the CIVITAS project.
  • Lecture: “Eating habits of elderly in Croatia”, with professional support from Darya-Sokolic Mihalak, Head of Scientific Support and Database. Croatian Food Agency.
  • Presentation and distribution of educational and informational brochures, including "Third Age and Food Safety", showing of film: U tišini (In the silence). Croatian Association for Alzheimer Disease.
  • Presentation, distribution of educational and informational brochures, measuring of glucose levels in blood. Zagreb Society for Diabetes.

25 April

  • Presentation of the City Health Status, Health Champions Award Ceremony for the year 2011. Zagreb City Assembly.
  • Open Day of the Centre for Mental Health (offering counselling regarding healthy ageing). Health Centre Zagreb - West.

5–20 April

  • Measurement of blood pressure and blood sugar, advice and guidance on healthy lifestyles, dietary needs, injury prevention especially at home, on the need to engage in physical and social activities that contribute to preserving functional ability in older people. Health Centre Zagreb - East.

5–25 April

  • Free of charge (and without prior referral) pulmonary examinations (lung X-ray and spirometry) to all 65+ citizens of Zagreb for the purpose of prevention and early detection of lung and bronchus cancer. Polyclinic for Respiratory System Diseases, Zagreb City Authority for Health.

12–20 April

  • Lectures on health in old age and public health actions of measuring glucose levels in blood and blood pressure (intended for all interested citizens). Croatian Catholic Society of Nurses and Technicians.