Ageing: Experts advocate social protection, abolition of myths
Ageing: Experts advocate social protection, abolition of myths
By Talatu Maiwada
Protection
Abuja, Nov. 5, 2018 (NAN) Panelists at the 1st Annual African Regional Conference on Ageing on Monday in Abuja called on African governments to provide social protection towards improving senior citizens’ rights and ending myths for older persons in Africa.
Speaking on `Ageism, the myths and older persons rights, challenges and prospect of inclusive implementation of SDG’s/Au Agenda 2063’, the experts called for innovative approach to enhance rights of older persons in the regions
Prof. Uzoma Okoye, Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said there was need to place demand on African governments to adopt the right based approach and sustainable frame work for older persons.
Okoye stated that there was need for governments to invest in older persons by providing social protection through the provision of free health care, nutritional support, unemployment insurance and pension.
She added that such investment would address challenges of wellbeing, poverty and discrimination encountered by older persons.
She appealed for innovative interventions by governments to address total dependence of older people on the family structure which was currently fading away in the society.
She noted that older people in Nigeria were also tagged as witchcrafts which was demeaning and must be put to an end.
She further urged the governments to include courses on Gerontology in secondary and tertiary institutions curriculum to curb myths and imbibe the knowledge in younger population.
According to her, Gerontology means care for older persons and their wellbeing.
Mr Sam Togba Slewion, Country Representative, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse from Liberia, appreciated the collective will by various organisations to move the agenda for older people forward.
Speaking on the myths on older people, he said they were perceived by the society as witchcrafts and people that should live in poverty till they die.
Slewion further noted that images from the African movie production also portrays the older people as witchcrafts.
He said the movie industry must change the narrative by portraying them as powerful people who have the capacity to contribute to the society positively despite their age.
He noted that many countries in Africa were yet to pass policies and intervention programmes for older people that care for their welfare.
Slewion further called on governments to see older people as vulnerable groups besides women and children and to engage them in political processes and nation building.
Mr Andrew Kavala, CEO, Malawi Network of Older People’s Organization (MANEPO), said older men and women have become invisible in the society as they were perceived as the most vulnerable.
He said there was need to change the terminology used by building their capacity, while giving them a chance to stand up and speak on issues that affect them.
Kavala also called on government officials and key stakeholders to ensure that various sectors in the society are able to address the challenges that come with ageing.
Dr Esi Ansah, Founder and Director, Association of Ghana’s Elders (AGE), said that there was no institutional support for the older people as there was only seven perc ent coverage for pensioners in Ghana.
She decried the absence of social security for the older people in Ghana, noting that it is perceived as the responsibility of families to care for their parents.
Ansah added that the family structure was changing due to responsibilities as senior citizens are left alone to cater for themselves while ageing was seen as a disease.
She called for a more multi-disciplinary commitment and support from institutions and the academia to invest in research for the aged.
Similarly, she called for the building of an eco-system of social businesses that are willing to invest in ageing through the provision of shuttle buses for transportation as well as discounts on medications from pharmaceutical companies.v(NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola