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Health

Foundation task govts on funding for older persons

Foundation task govts on funding for older persons
By Mustapha Sumaila
Budget
Abuja, June 27, 2018 (NAN) The Dave Omokaro Foundation has advised governments at all levels to promote social equity and ensure budgetary provision for older persons in the society.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Emem Omokaro, gave the advice in a communiqué she personally signed after a one-day workshop on SDGs and intersecting issues for older persons in Abuja.
Omokaro said that there should be enhanced provision of funds to finance research and capacity building on healthcare management for older persons by all levels of government and other relevant NGOs.
She explained that funding option of Social Health Insurance Programme for the aged should be encouraged.
According to her, such contributions should be made while in service, at the ratio 2:1 by the employer and employee, respectively, in consonance with NHIS, should also be promoted.
“There is need for speedy passage of older persons’ bills including the Bill for an Act to Regulate the Establishment and Operations of Residential Facilities for Frail Older Persons.
“And also the establishment of the Social Security Agency where funding for the care of the older persons through government budgetary of direct line deduction of sum from 30 per cent tax on communication services,” she said.
The director also suggested that there should be formulation of laws to protect the older persons by relevant organs of government to ensure quality of life, empowerment, dignity and access to healthcare.
Omokaro noted that the bill currently at the National Assembly for an Act to Establish the National Social Security Agency and the fund be made more comprehensive to include sources of funding.
She also advocated for establishment of literacy and skill acquisition centres that are older persons friendly.
She added that such should be established in all local government areas in support of revitalisation of adult and youth literacy. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

9m aged Nigerians need social welfare security – Expert

9m aged Nigerians need social welfare security – Expert
NAN-HG-8
Security
By Chinenye Offor
Abuja, Feb. 2, 2018 (NAN)

More than nine million Nigerians are aged and need social welfare security, said
Dr Emen Omokaro, the Executive Director, Dave Omokaro Foundation (DOF),which has been tracking the demographic group for several years.

Omokaro gave the figure on Friday during an advocacy visit to the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.

“Ageing is inevitable and increasingly people are becoming healthier and growing old. Over 9 million Nigerians are currently aged 60 plus.

“This figure is rising from 8.4 million in 2015 and projected to reach 15 million by 2030 and 29 million in 2050.

“The population of older persons is growing at 3.3 per cent census rate which will have impact on the social system and is Nigeria ready for it?’’ Omokaro said.

However, she commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the Senior Citizens Centre bill.

Omokaro noted that Buhari’s action was in line with the mandate of the foundation.

According to her, the foundation is focusing on issues of ageing and development, capacity building and mainstreaming ageing over the years.

“The foundation also focused on canvassing for Nigeria to have policies on ageing, national framework on ageing as well promoting life course,’’ the executive director said.

She said that DOF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Human Rights Commission with the aim of ensuring the welfare and rights of elderly persons in Nigeria.

Omokaro further said that the foundation was collaborating with the ministries of national planning, health, education, women and youths as well as National Population Commission, among other MDAs, to sensitise them on the need to include the aged in policies.

She thanked NAN for promoting issues of ageing and development over the years and solicited further support.

The executive director announced a five-day capacity building in March to empower drivers of the policy.

Onanuga said lack of welfare for the aged in Nigeria is a contributory factor to corruption.

“We don’t have programme to cater for the aged in our country as done in the developed countries.

“The issue of corruption that we keep facing in the society may well be due to lack of social welfare policies for the old people.

“We will help to mainstream ageing so that the Federal Government as well as State Governments will also get involved in the cause,” he said.

He pledged the support of NAN in creating more awareness in mainstreaming ageing issues and thanked the foundation for giving workers of the agency an opportunity to be trained.

(NAN)

CSO/ESAN/MST
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

NUC collaborates with gerontologists to address ageing problem

NUC collaborates with gerontologists to address ageing problem
NAN-HG-10
Ageing
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2017 (NAN) The National University Commission (NUC) says it will partner with Gerontology Association of Nigeria (GAN) to harness the problem of the elderly in the society.
Malam Ibrahim Irodani’ya, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, said this when members of the association’s Board of Trustee paid a courtesy visit to the commission on Wednesday in Abuja.
Irodani’ya said that it was a welcome idea to work with the association and stressed the need for identification of all members and having a comprehensive register for effective deliberation and ideas.
He also said the commission would promote the idea of the association through the inclusion of gerontology in university curriculum.
The Chairman of the association, Amb. Usman Saraki, said they would join hands with NUC to advocate for the welfare of elderly person’s in the society.
He said the association was established to create a platform where the needs of the elderly could be addressed.
He added that the association would collaborate with NUC in terms of creating a platform that would advocate the interest and welfare of elderly persons in the society.
According to him, ageing needs serious attention and social protection.
Saraki called for deliberate policies and effective implementation by the government as well as members of the society in the interest of the aged.
According to him, ageing is a natural process and preparation for ageing starts early in life when a person is intellectually sound as well as physically and mentally strong in order to prepare for it.
He appreciated the management of NUC over its commitment to collaborate with the association.
Dr Emem Omokaro, who is the convener of the visit, said the agenda of the association was to sensitise Nigerians on the need for care and provision of the aged needs in the society.
She said it was also geared towards making the populace understand ageing as well as the challenges of ageing.
She added that NUC and her foundation created spaces for research on ageing. (NAN)
CSO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola