Collaborating organisations

THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGEING-UNITED NATION-MALTA (INIA)
Malta was first to raise the question of Ageing as a matter of international concern at the United Nations in 1968. As a result, in 1982, the General Assembly held the World Assembly on Ageing. In its Resolution 37/51 it recommended inter-alia the promotion of training and research, as well as the exchange of information and knowledge in order to provide an international basis for social policies and action. It unanimously and without reservation, adopted the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing which remains the cornerstone of worldwide policy on Ageing. In this respect, the Plan recommended that practical training institutes should be promoted and encouraged so that they act as a practical bridge between and among high-income and low-income countries.

The UN Economic and Social Council, by its Resolution 1987/41 recommended to the UN Secretary-General, the establishment of the International Institute on Ageing. On the 9th October 1987, the United Nations signed an official agreement with the Government of Malta to establish the International Institute on Ageing as an autonomous body under the auspices of the United Nations. The Institute was inaugurated on 15th April, 1988 by the then United Nations Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar.

The Institute operates under the guidance of an International Board consisting of nine members. The Chairperson of the Board and six members are appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, with due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution, and two members are appointed by the Government of Malta. The term of office of the Board is that of three years.

In accordance with the Agreement signed between the United Nations and the Government of Malta, the Institute aims to fulfill the training needs of low-income countries and to facilitate the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

The Institute provides multi-disciplinary education and training in specific areas related to ageing, whilst also acting as a catalyst as regards the exchange of information on issues relating to ageing welfare. The Institute also seeks to achieve its mandate through 'in-situ' training programs. The first 'in-situ' training program was launched in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1995.

INIA's training programs are further reinforced by the Institute's other activities - these being data collection, documentation, information exchange, technical co-operation as well as research and publications. INIA thus carries out Research Projects, hosts expert group meetings, and offers Consultancy Services. The Institute is also mandated to act catalytically, and to operate through a network of co-operative cost-sharing arrangements, internationally regionally and nationally in co-operation with the United Nations and its agencies, the Regional Commissions and governmental and non-governmental organizations.
As a sum up, the overall mandate of INIA is to empower low-income countries to cope with the challenges of the consequences of mass longevity in the next decades by building capacity for them to be able to educate and train their own personnel to formulate and implement their own appropriate policies. This is done through the establishment of regional training canters, through training key personnel in different aspects of ageing. This is done by means of international training programs in Malta as well as through 'in-situ' training programs. INIA also commits itself in providing continuing support and continuity to sustain both the individual personnel and the Centers through modern information technology. Lastly, INIA promotes interactive networks and partnerships to sustain these initiatives in low- income developing countries, and to make available in an appropriate mode, expertise from the high-income countries.

An official Memorandum of understanding was signed between MEAMA and INIA for three years. The MuO Cover the term of references for academic collaboration and activities, which include:

- Sharing a world-wide collaborating network of professional institutions engaged in varied forms of activities in the field of ageing;

- Helping each other in terms to have their research papers in English published in INIA's peer-reviewed international journal;

- Exchanging experts to participate in the activities of the two Organisations;

- Exchanging information and technical assistance in the various fields of ageing;

- MEAMA will become part of INIA's world-wide collaborating network of professional institutions engaged in varied forms of activities in the field of ageing;

- MEAMA will make available to INIA its publications in English;

- INIA will include MEAMA on its mailing list for all its publications.

https://www.inia.org.mt

The Association was established in 2016 through the effort of an executive board member of MEAMA Prof Sonia Hammami. The aims of the association is to contribute to the development of the quality, efficiency and safety of medical and paramedical services for the elderly. It also aims to promote health care for poor seniors. Among the goals of the Association are:

1. To promote and improve the teaching of geriatrics in medical schools and higher health institutions and nursing institutes, in order to improve their skills.
2. Provide support and training to the medical and paramedical framework in the field of aging and provide them with the basic rules of health care for the elderly, the aim is to enable the elderly to be treated appropriately for the specificities of their health.
3. Organize scientific seminars, national, regional and international forums, in order to support the spread of geriatric medicine in our country and also to consolidate the culture of health care for the elderly with the medical and paramedical framework, as this has a positive impact on the health of our seniors.

The Tunisian Geriatric Association (ATG) in Collaboration with MEAMA has launched an intensive postgraduate course in geriatric medicine stimulating interest and knowledge in geriatrics. The course is made of 4 sessions, that last two days each and will be finished within a year. The course is geared toward physicians mainly internists and family physicians.

The topics of the four sessions will cover the major issues of geriatrics practice and issues including

Session Topics

First session Metabolic disorders
Second session Osteoporosis, VitD , Falls Assessment and Prevention, Rehabilitation, Sarcopenia
Third session Cognitive disorders , Diagnosis and Management of Dementia, Delirium and Depression
Fourth session Major geriatric syndromes

The sessions will take place in Monastir Tunisia. So far two cycle of the course had finished successfully. The total number of graduates in the two cycle is 98 graduates. These graduae received the postgraduate diploma of MEAMA and became member of the MEAMA network.

At the of this course, participants should be better able to: o Identify the basic principles of geriatric medicine o Apply principles of geriatric assessment, rehabilitation, o Understand key aspects of geriatric syndromes and chronic pathologies as they apply to older patients o Identify psychosocial problems and ethical issues in decision-making.

http://www.geriatrie-tn.org

MAMA was created in 2018 as part of MEAMA. The mission of MAMA is to create a hub for education and training in the field of ageing in North Africa. There is close links and collaboration between the two organizations with shared board members and shared visions and missions. The ultimate aim is to provide adequate training courses in the field of geriatrics and gerontology in the whole Middle East and North Africa.

Saudi Geriatric Association

SGA was championed by Dr Hashim Bulbaid who is an executive board member of MEAMA.

https://mobile.twitter.com/saudigeriatrics?lang=ar

Middle-East Association on Aging and Alzheimer's

Middle Eastern countries have certain cultural, social and economic characteristics in common with similar aspiration. The percentage of elderly in the Middle East is expected to increase with improvement of the health care delivery in the area. The region, like other developing countries, needs to define the policies and programs that will reduce the burden of aging populations on the society and its economy. There is a need to ensure the availability of health and social services for older persons and promote their continuing participation in a socially and economically productive life. In attempt to answer some of the deficit in the region, the MEAAA was established in order to support various activities in the field of aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Therefore, the Society's objectives are:
• to promote the scientific study of aging in both the biomedical and behavioral/social sciences; by direct members and member organizations, and to promote cooperation among these organizations
• to support the Middle-East journal of Age & Aging
• to promote research and knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and to raise public awareness about the disease
• to stimulate communications among scholarly disciplines, and among professionals including researchers, teachers, administrators, and others;
• to expand education in aging; and to develop the qualifications of gerontologists by setting high standards of professional ethics, conduct, education, and achievement. To promote training of highly qualified personnel in the fields of aging.
• to foster application of research to the field of practice; and to advance the utilization of research in the development of public policy; and to disseminate research findings by means of its publications;
• to promote the interests of the gerontological organizations and individual members in all questions pertaining to foreign or international matters.
• to promote and assist in the arrangements for holding the Middle-Eastern Congress of Gerontology at intervals determined by the Council.

Since its establishment the association was instrumental in organizing the first Middle East congress on Ageing in Istanbul in 2005. The Second Middle East Congress on Ageing and Alzheimer's was organized in Tripoli in 2009 and the third one planned to be organized in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The association has been registered in Switzerland and the secretariat office is at Abyad Medical Center, Tripoli, Lebanon.

http://www.me-jaa.com/meaaa.htm

Abyad Medical Center - AMC

Abyad Medical Center is a multispeciality group practice with multiple medical and surgical specialties, in addition to specialised unit and services available through the center.The center started in 1997 and established itself as pioneer in providing quality services for the North of Lebanon.
Since its establishment the center has launched a large number of public campaign in the field of osteoporosis, obesity and other important topics for public education.
The Center started as well several regional and international initiatives including :

1. Middle-East Academy for Medicine of Ageing
2. Middle-East Longevity Institute
3. Middle-East Journal of Family Medicine
4. Middle-East Journal of Age & Aging
5. Middle East Journal of Nursing,
6. Middle East Journal of Business,
7. Middle East Journal of Internal Medicine
8. Middle East Journal of Pyschiatry.
9. Middle-East Primary Care Research Network MEPCRN
10. Middle-East Network on Aging
11. Middle East Network on Elderly Care Services MENECS
12. Middle-East Association of Age, Aging & Alzheimer's

http://www.amclb.com

Middle East Network on Ageing Research - MENAR

There is a substantial research need in the ageing field in the Middle-East. Research is an essential prerequisite in developing the speciality further in the area, and in developing evidence-based practice. Therefore the Middle East Network on Ageing Research (MENAR) was established. It will be linked to a number of international organizations dealing with elderly issues.

MENAR started in 2006. The aim of the MENAR is to develop Geriatrics and Gerontology Research in the area, in particular to do the following:
1. To build the aging research network to fulfil unmet research needs.
2. To do collaborative research within the area, and with other networks.
3. To lobby for financial support for research in the Aging field from different organisations.
4. To help in the development of research training programmes, and the professional development of family physicians/researchers.
5. To organise conferences that deals with research in Ageing.
6. To establish a number of experts from a multidisciplinary background to act as advisors and mentors.
7. To help in publication of research studies from the region.
8. To foster collaboration between individual physicians, centres and countries within the Region.
9. To help in the exchange of ideas and methodologies in the area.
Currently there are fourteen countries represented in the network in addition to two national networks. The countries involved include Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Tunisia, Greece, Jordan, Bangladesh, USA, Belgium, Italy
The network has participated in a number of studies.
http://www.me-jaa.com/menar-index.htm

medi+World International

medi+WORLD International is a publishing house specialising in accredited medical education projects for world doctors. medi+WORLD International collaborates with world organisations, colleges, academies and NGO's to find innovative IT solutions for the health and medical sectors.
World Family Medicine (WFM)
Middle East Journal of Family Medicine (MEJFM)
Middle East Journal of Age and Ageing (ME-JAA)
Middle East Journal of Business (MEJB)
Middle East Journal of Nursing (ME-JN)
Middle East Journal of Internal Medicine (MEJIM)
South Asia Family Medicine Journal (SAFMJ)
Middle East Journal of Psychiatry and Alzheimer's (MEJPA)

They are the leading publishers in the Middle East, with our flagship, MEJFM, attracting circa 500,000 readers per issue/month, with papers from both the region and the world, and a focus on regional and global health issues.

The Middle East medical journals have played an active role in the ongoing development of academic standards and medical practice in the Middle East, through both the journals and participation in and support of regional conferences and events. They enjoy a position of great influence and respect, reflected by our top Regional and International Board who also support a range of social and medical initiatives we have introduced in the region.

http://www.mediworld.com.au