World Telecommunication and Information Society Day shines light on healthy ageing

AMMAN — This year, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day focuses on the vital role of ICTs in supporting people to stay healthy and remain connected, as well as independent. 

Celebrated annually on May 17, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day aims to raise awareness of the benefits that Internet and technology can bring to societies and economies.

“Telecommunications and information communication technologies (ICTs) have a role to play in achieving healthier ageing, but also in helping people build smarter cities, combat age-based discrimination at the workplace, ensure financial inclusion of older persons, and support millions of caregivers across the world,” according to the UN website.

Commenting on the occasion, Bayan Khaled, a young Jordanian ICT specialist, said that ICTs help provide health and social care to the elderly, noting that health application services have significantly increased in the Kingdom since the start of the pandemic.

“Youth empower older people to make use of digital tools and technologies, which enhances their social and economic integration in communities and achieves active ageing for people,” Khaled added.

Also, Jordan, with one of the youngest populations in the world, is helping harness the potential of the ICTs sector in supporting local society, according to a Jordanian specialist.

“Access to technology has enabled youth to realise their potential, and their involvement in ICT is key to building stronger societies,” Celina Varouqa, a young Jordanian computer scientist said.

According to UNICEF, 63 per cent of Jordan’s population is under the age of 30.

“Building an inclusive information society, promoting digital connectivity and ICT-enabled services is essential to improve our daily lives,” Varouqa told The Jordan Times.