NGO SEEKS SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE

About three hundred Pensioners in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have benefited from free medical aging programme outreach organized by Okposi Geriatric Health Project, a non-governmental organization in the area in partnership with SKG Pharma and HAPPYNigeria.

The initiator/facilitator of the programme, Mr. Magnus Eze said the plight of the pensioners and the aged motivated him and his partners to intervene.

Mr Eze regretted that there are no pro-active, protective, friendly and soothing policies for elderly people in Nigeria, pointing out that there is need for immediate legislative framework to provide social security for the senior citizens.

“It is disheartening that elderly persons, especially pensioners are left dejected, frustrated and abandoned after they have spent their active years in the service of the country. This should not be the case. Old age should evoke honour, good will and peaceful rest, but unfortunately, the Nigerian system bequeaths pensioners with frustration. We want Government at all levels to pay attention to senior citizens. This could begin with partnerships from all the sectors; but the most important is making progressive laws to protect elderly people in Nigeria”, Mr. Eze stated.

The Programme Facilitator therefore urged lawmakers in the states and federal legislature to come to the rescue of elderly persons in the country.

The pensioners expressed great delight and advocated a comprehensive free medical policy to take care of all categories of pensioners and the aged persons in Nigeria.

Two of them, Chief George Ayaru, Secretary of the Association and Mrs. Philomena Agwu stressed that the introduction of the free medical scheme for pensioners would assist them overcome health conditions associated with old age.

The coordinator of the medical team, Dr. Okike Okechukwu, of Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki said they focused on diabetes, hypertension and the eye conditions. 96 persons received free eye glasses, while the health talk was on prostrate disease.

The Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ogbuefi Enekwachi Akpa promised to partner with the organization to expand the free medical outreach by ensuring that it is decentralized to the three communities that make up the council area; namely Okposi, Uburu and Ugwulangwu.

MAGNUS EZE
INITIATOR/FACILITATOR
OKPOSI GERIATRIC HEALTH PROJECT