Anambra State Government has partnered with a Non Governmental Organisation, First Best Domiciliary Home Care World(Care Services Nigeria for Aged Persons) to eliminate stigmatisation and other forms of inhuman treatment against aged persons in the State. The programme which was designed to take care of the aged people in the state who are abandoned by their children in an official inauguration was launched over the weekend at Finotel Classy Hotels Agu-Awka, Anambra State.
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Mr Ikemefuna Nwafor, the Chairman of the event in his opening remarks said that the programme was aimed at setting a template for what should happen to the aged segment of the population.
“It is sad that the aged in civilized countries aged gracefully and successfully while their counterparts in Nigeria are ageing in abandonment and frustration. Old age is a stage of life that we will all get to. It does not take a century to get there, it is just a matter of time. So, we need to plan and prepare to do better in taking care of the elderly in our society, “ he said.
A United States of America-based clinical psychologist, Prof Kanayo Ofodile while speaking at the inauguration described old age as a death sentence in Nigeria.
“I reside in a civilized country, the U.S. to be precise, and we see and learn how they care so much about old people. People who are vulnerable and cannot cater for themselves anymore. But it is a sad situation in our country. It looks like old age is a death sentence in our society. Children abandon their aged parents and relatives without care. Many aged persons are homeless, abandoned, lonely, unhealthy and unkempt, hence, the establishment of this organisation. There is a need to start prioritizing care for the elderly”, he added.
Prof Ofodile further called for a re- sensitization of the younger generation on the need to see the care of the elderly as obligatory.
Director of the NGO, in his welcome address also noted that over 80 per cent of the elderly in the society lack good domestic care and spend their old age through pain due to negligence and lack of caregivers.
Mbah stated that the organisation would be saddled with a new approach to taking care of the homes of the aged to cater for their needs and improve their lives.
He urged the state government and well-meaning individuals to support the organisation in its mission.
“Owing to the nature of this caregiving services, we appeal for support in the areas of ambulance for emergency and utility vehicles for movement of social officials across the state. We also need a minibus for strolling with aged persons as part of their fun experiences and a piece of land to build a geriatric Home Centre for the training of caregivers, for relaxation and home to homeless aged persons” he stated.
Ilouno, a surgeon, public health physician, volunteered to partner with the NGO with his medical knowledge and experience to the elderly free of charge.
“So much people are dying in their droves and one of the contributing factors is loss of hope. As you get older, your circle of friends reduce, you get weaker and poorer, irrespective of what you’ve saved in life. You also discover that you’ll be depending on people who are also suffering, weaker, poorer than them. You discover such persons end up dying of loneliness and depression. As a surgeon, public health physician, anesthetist and as a teacher of medicine, by the time I join the team to look at the patient, I’ll be able to decipher those who need treatment. This is a laudable project and we promise that our communities will work with you because we want our people to age gracefully, longer and fulfilled,” he added.
The Commissioner for health and Women Affairs and Social Welfare who were present as Special Guests, Dr Adam Obidike and Mrs Ify Obinabo lauded the NGOs initiative as germane.
However, Dr Obidike pointed out that the journey is not going to be easy but it was a fantastic move. He assured the group of government support to achieve its objectives.
” I recommend you put monitoring and feedback mechanism. The movement is a welcome development. It is one of the programmes, Soludo led-administration is interested in, to enable his government achieved the vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous state in Nigeria. Infact, It is one of the projects in the front burner of Governor Soludo’s agenda,” the Commissioner noted.
