NOA, CSOs call for policies on rights of older persons
Rights
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, June 27, 2018 (NAN) Civil society Organisations (CSOs) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) have called on the Federal Government to establish policies to provide rights and privileges for older persons in the country.
They affirmed that such would ensure health and economic relief and protection of their social and civil rights.
The group made the call at a one-day sensitisation workshop to commemorate the 2018 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Day is usually celebrated on June 15, but due to the fasting period that ended with Eid-el-fitr, stakeholders in Nigeria shifted it to June 26.
Dr Eze Ajoku, President Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN) alleged that government and authorities have not done enough to ameliorate how elders were abused in the society.
Ajoku said there was no national policy on ageing adding that why would respect and care not accorded to people who have contributed their quota to national development, simply because they are old.
He noted that COSROPIN had come up with a bill for an Act to provide certain rights and privileges for older persons.
“Efforts must be intensify to ensure that the policies are translated to actions in order to address the issues faced by the elderly ranging from force confinement, verbal abuse, material and financial exploitation.
“We must ensure quality and accessible health care and social protection for the elderly.
“I call on the Federal Government to fast track the social security Act which by itself is a poverty safety net for the older persons to reduce their sufferings.
“`Gerontology’ should be taught as a subject in our tertiary institutions to prepare our youths for aging and to teach how to respect and treat aging parents.
“Also Churches and Mosques should encourage, teach and remind their followers to care for their aged parents; governments at all levels should pay pension and stipends to the elderly regularly,’’ Ajoku said.
He also urged NOA to continue the campaign to educate and create awareness of older person’s plight.
In his own remark Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General of NOA said that the Agency was committed to advocacy, sensitisation and collaboration to ensure the establishment of policy that focus on the aged.
He said that such policy would ensure that the aged in the society get the dignity and respects that comes to older persons.
“The aged are assets to the communities in terms of memory, wisdom, experiences and other areas of human endeavour. They should be regarded as moral compass for the young generation.
“All of us aspire to be old one day; the society must be responsible and appreciate the aged, but unfortunately, they are subject of maltreatment, even to get their entitlement.
“Just as children suffer abuse, the aged also suffer abused. Our society cannot be complete unless the aged are being respected, and protected,’’ Abari submitted.
Also, Mrs Yeye-Bolanle Olatunde, the Executive Secretary of the Board of I-Care Initiative for the Aged said the 2018 theme for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is “Moving from Awareness to Action through a Human Right Base Approach’’.
Olatunde said the awareness programme for the elderly reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
According to her it does not put a cap on collation of data but rather recognise a society for all ages where no one is left behind.
“People of all ages are supposed to be included in all phases of development as well as supported as contributors to their families, communities and nations.
“This will bring us closer to realising the idea of `leave no one behind’ because it is the unity of purpose that we can demand and secure the rights of older persons,’’ Olatunde said.
Similarly, Ms Emem Omakoro in her keynote address said that whatever an individual is doing today will manifest when he or she attains the age of 60.
She said when the youths accord the aged dignity and respect; such would also be shown to them when they are aged.
She said it was regrettable that some old widows were libeled witches, neglected and sometimes killed base on allegations of witch craft.
“Let us support the aged; we can give financial, health, security, socio-psychological and other supports to them.
“Such support will integrate the older person with what he or she wants and they will be happy,’’ she said.
The workshop was jointly organised by I-Care Initiative for the Aged, NOA, and Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN).(NAN)
CMY/EAL
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi