FG engage stakeholders on implementation of Geriatric Social Homecare
The Federal Government says it will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure speedy implementation of the Geriatric Social Homecare for senior citizens in the country.
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Dr Emem Omokaro, the Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), disclosed this on Wednesday
in Abuja during a two-day international workshop on the domiciliary care agency in Nigeria.
The event was organised in collaboration with the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) to ensure speedy takeoff and the operational mechanisms of social homecare for senior citizens.
Omokaro said “we are here to put together implementation steps to operationalise what we have already conceptualised, our National Policy Guidelines of Care Quality Assurance for Care Settings.
“This includes domiciliary care, where you can have skilled caregivers going to work in the homes of older persons instead of taking them to a public facility.
“So, this means we are now putting certified agencies and skilled operators to provide care need to older persons at their homes and comfort zones.
“This workshop is for stakeholders to look at our policy document, our strategic roadmap, and to make sure it aligns with global best practices.”
Mr Abel Enitan, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said statistics show that Nigeria has substantial need for long-term care for older persons.
Enitan, who was represented by the Director, Legal Services in the ministry, Mr Garba Hanawega, said that the need is likely to increase by the growing number of older persons.
According to him, NSCC has worked extensively with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to identify peculiar cultural, institutional and system challenges and classified different care settings.
While commending the NSCC for efforts toward improving the quality of lives of older persons, Enitan said that the ministry is proud to note the giant strides
made by the centre.
He added that “through the NSCC, Nigeria is paying attention to investing in older population, while integrating youths into programmes with optimistic perception.
“The ministry will continue to support NSCC by undertaking ministerial-level advocacy for more funding support to the centre for the benefit of our senior citizens.”
On his part, Mr Robert Vanne, the Country Director of the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in Nigeria, underscored the need for member-states to adopt comprehensive care system for older persons.
Vanne assured the NSCC of UN’s readiness to support efforts toward improving the living standards of senior citizens across the country.
NAN/Wumi
