WILLEMSTAD - The Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN) announced on Monday that it will establish a task force to develop an action plan within five months aimed at providing concrete solutions for the care needs of the elderly and addressing fragmentation within the government.
The ministry emphasized that the current division of responsibilities, spread across various ministries and healthcare institutions, is leading to inefficiencies and inequalities in care.
The new task force will consist of representatives from the government, healthcare institutions, and experts in elderly care.
Curaçao is experiencing a significant aging of its population. In 1960, only 4.3 percent of the population was over 65 years old, but this percentage has risen to 24.7 percent today. Life expectancy on the island has also increased significantly, from 67 years in 1960 to 79 years currently.
At the same time, the number of young people is shrinking. The fertility rate has dropped from 5 children per woman in 1960 to just 1.3 today. Additionally, many young people are leaving for abroad, particularly to the Netherlands, where more than 80,000 first-generation Curaçaoans now reside.