Seychelles Looks to Sweden for Elderly Care Collaboration
Seychelles’ Ministry of Health and the city of Umeå in Sweden have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen geriatric care, with a focus on dementia. The agreement, signed by Health Minister Jean-Paul Adam and Umeå City Elderly Care Chair Carin Nilsson, aims to provide specialised training for caregivers and healthcare professionals, as well as opportunities for Seychellois nurses to pursue long-term geriatric education in Sweden.
The collaboration builds on previous exchanges, including a Seychelles health delegation visit to Sweden, and will include training programmes, hospital visits, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Swedish experts will travel to Seychelles later this year to support local healthcare staff, and both sides will explore research opportunities on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The MoU is open-ended, with programmes and activities reviewed and approved annually. The initiative also aligns with Seychelles’ broader plans to prepare for an ageing population, including investments in nursing homes and increased retirement age from 63 to 65 starting January 2023.
From Salim C. Mathieu, Founder of Seychelles in Sweden
This partnership is a promising example of how Seychelles can learn from international best practices while adapting them to local needs. Sweden’s expertise in elderly care offers valuable guidance, and I look forward to seeing these initiatives benefit our healthcare professionals and elders alike.