Many people advocate policy on ageing to enhance care for parents

Many people advocate policy on ageing to enhance care for parents-Survey

Aged

By Reporters

Bauchi, June 14, 2022 (NAN) Many people have called for domestication of Older Persons Rights Act, to enhance care for parents.

Respondents in a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the North East geopolitical zones, said domestication of the policy by state governments would enhance care for parents at grassroots.

NAN reports that the Federal Government in February 2022, approved the National Policy on Ageing for Older Persons in the country.

The policy seeks to provide opportunities for older persons in urban and rural areas, older persons living with disabilities, older migrants and internally displaced older persons,

It also covers poor older persons and older persons that are full of vigour contributing to the progress of families and the society.

Mr Idris Musa, a Bauchi-based civil society activist, said the call was imperative to make it compulsory on children to look after their parents.

Musa said that lack of such legislation was largely responsible for the life threatening condition being experienced by older persons.

Mr Solomon Uche, a resident of Gombe who corroborated earlier opinion, decried spate of alleged parents’ abandonment in the region.

He alleged that there were increase in the number of children not taking up their responsibilities of caring for their parents.

Uche said parents needed to be “appreciated not just celebrated” in view of the huge sacrifices they paid to ensure their children survived to be where they were.

“By appreciation I mean giving them care and showing them love and not just going to social media to post their pictures without doing the needful in terms of meeting their needs.”

He said the best way to celebrate parents was to give them attention by listening to them and meeting their needs.

For Sa’adatu Maina, a Damaturu-based journalist, said she could sacrifice her life to please her parents.

“I feel deeply indebted to my parents because whatever good things I do to them, I cannot repay them for bringing me into this world.

“And it did not stop there, they took the pain of being there for me when I was powerless and could not fend for myself,” she said.

Yawale Maidala, a civil servant in Damaturu, recalled how his birthed almost cost the life of his mother due to complications at child birth.

“I thank God that she survived the complications after my birth, and that is why it is my duty to take good care of her.

“Caring for her is Godly,” he said.

Also, Garba Abacha said he often took his aged mother to the amusement parks to make her relax and feel good.

He said that his mother laboured hard and made him a responsible person, adding that comforting and celebrating her was important.

“In view of the significance of celebrating our parents, the United Nations set aside June 1, as Global Day of Parents.

“We must thank our parents in a way we can for the show of love and affection to us, it is good for our mental health.

“It may interest you to know that children who undergo trauma from poor parental upbringing, develop psychological disorder in future,” Abacha said.

Also, Malam Shamsudeen Abdulrahaman, an Islamic cleric in Maiduguri, described caring for parents as an act of worship.

He said that God favoured those who care and loved their parents, especially when they are weak and old.

He said that Islam accorded special recognition for parents, especially mothers, adding that it is duty bound on Muslim faithful to take care of their parents.

The cleric admonished the people to treat their parents with kindness, love and respect.

Also, Zainab Tijjani, a Dutse resident said it was imperative to show love, kindness and care to our parents while they are alive.

“Some people will use huge amount of money to celebrate the death of their parents, but could not use half of such amount to take good care of them while living.

“We should celebrate our parents all the time. Parents are everything, they are our best teachers because it was from them we first learnt everything about ourselves and life.

“It is from them we first learnt good things and find meaning in living a purposeful life,” she said.

She noted that no one choose his parents, they are gift from God and vice versa.

“It is disheartening that some will recollect the good times with friends and colleagues, and forgetting about their parents who saw us through the ups and downs of our lives, they loved us, no matter the situation.

“So it will be kind of us to show them how important they are to us by making sure that we appreciate them”.

However, Mr Olubunmi Akintoye, a Bauchi resident, decried spate of celebration of parents’ life after their demise by some children.

Akintoye said celebrating parents while alive was best thing to make them happy and proud of their children.

“There is nothing you can do for them after death, the trend is a waste of money and resources.

“Celebrating them alive will make them happy, especially for the kind of person you have become because as living souls, they can share from what God has blessed you with and pray for you,’’ he said.

Similarly, Ismael Raji, said he would rather celebrate his parents while alive than appreciating them after death.

On her part, Folashade Ogunjobi, said some parents go through depression and loneliness, hence, the need to celebrate and make them “feel good and comfortable.”

Ogunjobi said parents were joyous after bearing children hoping that they would regard them in “high esteem and cover their shame at old age.”

She further decried the attitude of children who celebrate parents on social media without their knowledge.

“This is a case of celebrating without the knowledge of the celebrant.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Reporters/RSA/EAL
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Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali/Ekemini Ladejobi