An Active Ageing Centre has been officially inaugurated in Rabat, providing a dedicated space where older persons can meet and participate in educational, social and cultural activities aimed at helping them remain active within their community.

The Rabat centre is the 36th Active Ageing Centre operating nationwide. Attendance across these centres reached 3,258 elderly participants last year, marking an increase of more than 20 per cent over the previous year.

The programme of activities at the Rabat centre has been designed to promote lifelong learning, raise awareness about physical and mental health, and strengthen social interaction among older residents in the locality.

Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea said the Active Ageing Centres form a key pillar of the Government's strategy to ensure that older persons continue to function within the community as independently as possible. He reiterated the Government's commitment to continued investment in these centres, both by expanding the network and by renovating facilities that require modernisation.

"With this centre, we will continue to ensure that elderly residents of Rabat and neighbouring localities remain active, as they will continue to have opportunities to meet, learn and enjoy life within the community they value," Agius Galea said.

Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing Renzo DeGabriele described the opening of the Rabat facility as further encouragement to continue expanding the network of Active Ageing Centres.

The Chief Executive Officer of Active Ageing and Community Care, Steve Agius, highlighted the joint efforts of various stakeholders, particularly within the Rabat community, which led to the establishment of the centre. He stressed that activities organised at these centres are primarily intended to combat loneliness among older persons.

The Rabat Active Ageing Centre will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.