UTFacultiesEEMCSDisciplines & departmentsBSSNewsMore than 60 stakeholders brainstorm about future plans for ‘Vitaal Twente’

More than 60 stakeholders brainstorm about future plans for ‘Vitaal Twente’

On Thursday, September 27, Vitaal Twente organized a so-called partner event. Purpose: to think about the future strategy for Vitaal Twente with partners and other interested parties, including citizens.


Vitaal Twente is an initiative of Carint Reggeland, GGD, Menzis, ROC, Roessingh Research and Development, the 14 Twente municipalities, Saxion, University of Twente and Ziekenhuisgroep Twente. In the course of 2017, the collaboration was formalized through the foundation of Stichting Vitaal Twente. And Ministry of VWS was the first to grant Vitaal Twente the subsidy for prevention coalitions.

Twente the most vital region of the Netherlands

On the one hand, the Vitality of the residents in Twente is lagging behind in comparison with the rest of the Netherlands. The ‘Twentse Gezondheidsverkening’ of the GGD shows that the average life expectancy is lower and Twente residents die more often from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental disorders, COPD and diabetes mellitus than on average in the Netherlands. Twente is also aging faster. In 2040, 27.8% of the inhabitants in Overijssel will be 65 years or older. On the other hand, there is a lot of potential in the region in the field of care and technology. But due to fragmentation, further development are insufficient and not sustainable. Vitaal Twente wants to bridge that gap.

Sustainable implementation of technological innovations

Vitaal Twente helps to move from idea to project and from project to implementable product and to secure it sustainably. It is important that innovations stick to daily practice. This happens, among other things, through the collaboration with the ROC / the Twente Care Academy (TZA). The TZA offers an environment in which students, professionals and interested parties can get acquainted with technological innovations.

The future strategy

The number of partners has now expanded. Among other things, the first line with the connection of the Federation Primary Care Almelo and the KNGF. Several projects got support. The challenge now to go to a more programmatic approach that has been considered by over 60 people involved during the partner event.

 

Source: Vitaal Twente – article website Menzis (in Dutch)