The International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) has called on governments at all levels to provide free healthcare services for older citizens, saying they deserved to be treated better for contributing to Nigeria’s growth.
FIDA Abuja Financial Secretary Francisca Akaniro, made the call when she led a delegation of female lawyers to the Amazing Grace Home for the old in Abuja, as part of its activities to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) on the theme “The Journey to Age Equally”.
Akaniro noted the importance of older persons in the country, urging all to reflect on best practices, lessons and progress on the journey to ending older age inequalities and changing negative narratives and stereotypes involving “old age.”
She said, FIDA Abuja being aware of the importance of this day join the world in commemorating the day.
“We have decided to celebrate the day with older persons of the Amazing Grace Home located at Kado Estate and spend time with them, share with them and show them love and affection because we care for them,” she said.
Earlier, its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, noted that Nigeria alone there are over 9.6 million out of over 700 million older people in the world.
She added that an off shoot of it’s objective is to always check out for the welfare of women and children,
“We are here today because in our bye laws and our constitution every day celebrated by UN that is relevant to our core objective, which is watching out for women and children we also celebrate that day.
“FIDA stands for the vulnerable especially women and children and so it is proper that we should also celebrate the older women,” she added.
Ogunlana-Nkanga lamented the plight of Nigeria women at 59 years of independence, describing their condition as “depressing.”
“We can say the government is trying by bringing good policies but what we need is implementation which is absent and that is the problem. I will say categorically that the way Nigeria women are in a depressing state .
“There are no older people’s home like we see in advanced countries with old people homes where they are being taken care of by the government and they enjoy the company of one another,” she said.
“Government need to do more, we also need to take care of our elderly by making sure we provide for them. It is the reaponsibility of government to provide free medical services because they are old and they have paid their dues,” she stressed.
The Director/President of the International Center for Peace and Reconciliation Ministries Dr. King M. Kinang, noted thayt President Buhari attended some conferences around the world that borders on global ageing, saying this shows government commitment to the plight of older persons.
He urged that more result oriented policies and programmes be implemented to tackle the challenges faced by older people in the country.
In her welcome address, the Founder Amazing Grace Home Mrs. Ifeanyinwa Obegolu (esq) said the home was established since 2004 to cater to the needs of older persons such as medical care, nursing services, rehabilutation, physiotherapy amongst others.
