The government will hold an elderly care training course this month to promote the welfare of senior citizens and open up more overseas job opportunities, said Myanmar Health and Sports Minister U Myint Htwe.

The six-month course will be start on Thursday with the help of non-governmental organisations Poster Guigo Service Co. and the Japanese Elderly Care Training School.

There is high demand for elderly caregivers all over the world. The course can accept only 97 people out of the more than 1000 who applied for the training.

U Than Aung Soe, MP for Minhla township in Bago Region, said that the young people trained in elderly care could easily find jobs abroad.

He added that nurses and nursing assistants are also in high demand in Myanmar and some foreign countries.

To close the gap, the government will soon open the University of Nursing in Shwebo Township in Sagaing Region, Myaungmya Township in Ayeyarwady Region and Hakha Township in Chin State.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population’s National Skills and Standards Authority manages private nurse’s aide training, elderly care training and certification, U Myint Htwe said