Vital to invest in children for ageing society, says deputy director

KUCHING (Oct 22): Given the growing ageing population, investing in children has become increasingly important, said United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) East Asia and Pacific Regional Office deputy regional director Dr Myo-Zin Nyunt.

He said that according to projections, one in four people in the region will be over 60 years old by 2050, which is expected to significantly increase the dependency ratio.

“In an ageing society, we need to maximise the potential of every child and equip them with the skills required for a rapidly changing workforce, so that they are capable of supporting dependents.

“While social protection has yielded impressive results for families and the economy, many countries still face challenges in securing the resources and political will needed to introduce or expand such investments.

“Each country is at a different stage of achieving comprehensive social protection, along with adopting different routes and strategies,” he said at the ‘2nd Regional Social Policy Conference for East Asia and Pacific’, held at the Hilton Kuching Hotel here today.

Nyunt further noted that emerging geopolitical uncertainties, climate crisis and demographic shifts continue to widen disparities, despite the region’s rapid economic growth.

“More than 100 million of the poorest children in this region are stunted, unvaccinated and deprived of quality education and other essential services.

“With increasing health and safety risks, displacements and rapidly changing labour markets, more children and their families are at risk of falling into the vicious cycle of poverty and exclusion,” he added.

In this regard, he urged governments to recognise child poverty as a national policy priority.

“A recent Unicef study showed that child poverty in East Asia has increased for the first time in 30 years and almost one-third of children suffered from at least one form of severe deprivation.

“Income gains in middle-income countries have not translated into gains for children’s well-being.

“Countries need to further expand their social protection systems to reach children most at risk of discrimination and exclusion, including those who have been displaced or migrated,” he said.

Furthermore, Nyunt stressed the importance of government decisions in resource allocation, which have become even more critical.

“Social protection programmes such as cash transfers, health insurance and education subsidies help ensure that every child has access to good nutrition, healthcare and education, thereby reducing the lifelong consequences of poverty.

“However, the coverage of these programmes often falls short, remaining out of reach for the children who need them the most,” he added.