Government strengthens geriatric healthcare with new ACE Wards at Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital

The Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo, proceeded with the inauguration of Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) wards, today at the Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital in Port Louis, as part of Government’s continued efforts to modernise and strengthen geriatric health care services.

The two wards have a combined capacity of around 36 patients and are equipped to provide specialised health care, treatment and care adapted to the specific needs of elderly patients.

The attendees were the Minister of Housing and Lands, Mr Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Abdul Razack Mohamed; the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem; the Minister of Land Transport, Mr Mahomed Osman Cassam Mahomed; the Minister of Industry, SME and Cooperatives, Mr Sayed Muhammad Aadil Ameer Meea; Members of the National Assembly, Mr Mohamed Ehsan Juman and Dr Farhad Ismael Aumeer; as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Resident Representative to Mauritius, Dr Abdou Salam Gueye.

In a statement, Minister Bachoo recalled that the ACE wards were introduced in March this year, stressing the progress made since then, with four regional hospitals already providing this specialised service to elderly patients. He announced that an additional ACE ward would soon be established at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Rose Belle.

He also underlined the importance of ensuring that elderly patients have access to efficient, timely and appropriate healthcare services, particularly in view of their specific medical needs and the specialised care and attention required by this segment of the population.

For his part, Dr Aumeer highlighted the demographic changes in Mauritius, with an increasingly ageing population, and dwelt on the need to further develop specialised healthcare services for older persons. He pointed out that the establishment of ACE wards would contribute to bringing essential and specialised healthcare services closer to the population.

He further referred to the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Mauritius, noting that a significant proportion of persons affected are aged 60 years and above. He emphasised that strengthening geriatric healthcare services through initiatives such as the ACE wards reflects Mauritius’ commitment to enhancing the quality of healthcare and bringing the country increasingly in line with international standards.

As for Dr Gueye, he recalled that older persons are at the centre of the WHO’s strategy and areas of action. He commended Mauritius for enhancing healthcare needs of its ageing population.

Dr Gueye also noted that around 80 per cent of hospitals in Mauritius are now equipped with ACE wards, describing this as an important step towards ensuring that elderly patients receive appropriate, specialised and quality care within the health system.

02 September 2026

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Topics: Health