nouvelles de notre association - AAFI-AFICS, Geneva - UNOG

A SUCCESSFUL SEMINAR
Our member Dr. David Cohen, who is also President of our sister Association AFSM of WHO, was one of
the three speakers at “Ageing in Good Health” Seminar, an event which attracted a record number of
participants and was highly appreciated by all.
He has written an account of the Seminar for the Quarterly Bulletin of the AFSM and given us permission
to reproduce it in the AAFI-AFICS Bulletin.
“Ageing in good health”
“This was the title of the Seminar held on 23 April 2003 in the Council Chamber of the ILO, at the
instigation of the Association of Former Civil Servants (AAFI-AFICS).
Three lecturers took part: Dr. David Cohen, who has developed the conceptions of ageing, and the
measures to take to slow it down:
1. Prevention through an annual check-up and screening measures;
2. Healthy, varied and well-balanced diet;
3. Elimination of smoking, reduction in alcohol;
4. Physical exercise at all ages;
5. Intellectual and social activity.
Dr. Alexander Kalache, Coordinator of the Ageing and Life Course Section of WHO, then asked the
audience how they experienced the ageing process and requested that they share their personal
experiences. The ensuing debate was lively and interesting; in the audience was Mrs. Charlotte
Lamunière, the eldest member of AAFI-AFICS, centenarian in perfect physical and mental health, who
intervened actively.
After a well-earned coffee break, the conference recommenced with a much appreciated talk by Dr.
Norman Sartorius, former Director of the Mental Health Division of WHO, with much laughter from the
audience. His talk concerned above all the mental aspect of ageing and measures of an intellectual and
social order; he insisted on the necessity for older persons to take care over their physical appearance,
in order to maintain the respect of their families and friends. In particular, he developed the mental side
of the question. After many and varied exchanges from the audience, the conference closed and a hearty
buffet lunch, during which discussions continued at a pace, ended this very interesting seminar which
lasted from approximately 10a.m. to 3.p.m”.
David Cohen
CULTURAL VISIT TO ITALY
The Lombard towns of the Viscontis (Bellinyona, Como, Vigevano, Pavia, Cremona, Mantua, Sabbioneta
and Bergamo)
As announced at the Annual General Assembly, the excursion to Northern Italy will take place from
Thursday, 9 to Tuesday, 14 October 2003. Two nights will be spent in Como and three in Cremona,
where there will be the possibility of seeing two operas: Puccini’s “Turandot” and Monteverdi’s “Orfeo”.
There are still a few places and to receive the detailed programme, please contact the Agence italienne
de tourisme (AIT) in Geneva, tel. +022 919.05.50.
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