Governments at all levels have been called upon on the need to initiate policy that will center on catering for the wellbeing of retired, aged and ageing citizens across the country.
The spokesperson of Consultative Forum on Ageing, Ogun State Chapter, Prof. Eunice Modupe Hassan made this call on Tuesday in Abeokuta at an event to commemorate the maiden edition of National Day of Older Persons with the theme, “Celebrating the resilience and contributions of older persons in a changing world”.
Professor Hassan expressed worry that many aged and retired citizens don’t enjoy their pension, noting that the none working class suffer more but they deserve to be considered in the scheme of things.
“Today is a day set aside to celebrate our senior citizens and this is the maiden edition with the theme, ‘Celebrating the resilience and contributions of older persons in a changing world’.
“Governments need to rise up to the task of catering for the older persons because they all need the privilege to enjoy, have a better old age”.
“So, in Nigeria where little or nothing has been done for the senior citizens, we hope that as we begin this awareness that somehow one day, that something good will be done to make life more bearable for the older persons in the society “.
“This programme is to enhance the ability of our elderly persons and to also make them acceptable in the society in regardless of their health challenges “.
“Government should do its best for them and not relent in its effort to make the senior citizens feel good and proud to have served their nation “, she added.
On his part, the Vice Chairman, Health Insurance and Social Welfare for Older Persons in the state, Dr. Lawal Ismail Akinlade, advocated for improved health insurance scheme that will cater for the health needs of the senior citizens in the country.
He however called on governments tonstep up efforts in the payment of pensions to the older persons to enable them live comfortable after retirement.
“I think what the government needs to do is to make health provisions available for the aged and senior citizens at a very subsidized rate”.
“Quality health insurance for the aged should be the priority of the government like it is done in a more advanced world “, he said.
