…As NGO gives free health Check- up, food items to elderly in Edo
By Simeon OSAJIE
The newly elected National Publicity Secretary and Edo State Vice Chairman of Elderly Peoples Association of Nigeria (EPAN), Chief Eddy Ogbomo has called on Federal government, Edo State government and corporate organizations across the country to take proper care of the elderly people in the country
as they have been decried lack of healthcare.
Addressing the elderly on their recent election held in Akure, Ondo State, Chief Ogbomo decried the lack of healthcare f the elderly.
He also urged the elderly to bring more members to the association as the new executive is committed to ensuring that new members are brought into the association from all the Local Government Area of Edo State.
Elder Ogbomo reassured that the food items provided is to celebrate them, that the association is currently working on their plans to share rice during Christmas and New Year food packages for them during yuletide period.
In her opening remarks, one of the elderly persons, Mrs. Roseline Odiase, decried that, there is no primary healthcare centre in the areas for most of the elderly persons in Edo state.
She said primary healthcare is meant for everybody in the community residing in the areas and told the elderly to ask their various political leaders that are representing them in their various positions in political offices to create healthcare centres for them.
“So many of you did not know where primary healthcare in their areas are located. While some don’t even have it. She said primary healthcare is operated by the local government council boss,” she added.
In interview with one of the elders Haja Fatima Umoru, a widow who resided in the Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo state, said, she is very glad and happy for receiving the food items.
She thanked St. Monica Home elderly for given them the food stuffs.The event is witnessed the cutting of birthday cake barked for the elderly people.
As a way to celebrate the senior citizens in the society, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) known as St. Monica Home for the Elderly has given out food items and shelter to the elderly people Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Disclosing the essence of the event, Senior partner of St. Monica Home For The Elderly, Dr. (Mrs.) Patience Onuwaje, said the organization decided to give shelters and foods items in a seminar organized for the senior citizens in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the NGO, Dr. Onuwaje said, “today, we are giving out food items, clothing’s and medications like never before to the elderly in our society.
Our theme for this year programme, “Ageing and Improved Elderly Care for A Better Society,” because if there has to be a better society, there is need for it.
“There is need for us to improved elder care; and the time is now for the fact that, we are not getting younger, but getting older day and night. As we are aware, an elderly person often has limited regenerative abilities.
“They are more prone to disease, dementia syndromes and sickness than the younger adults. This group of people face social issues such as; retirement, loneliness, ageism etc.
“They need a lot of assistance, especially now that, the African tradition of younger family members caring for the elders are gradually drifting away,” Mrs . Onuwaje opined.