The Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro has appealed to Nigerians to always see older people’s needs beyond mere palliatives and ensure they have access to quality healthcare and the provision of basic amenities. He stated this at a one-day capacity enhancement workshop for 36 state commissioners and Directors of Social Welfare, on the domestication of the NSCC Act and National Action Plan on Ageing on Tuesday in Abuja. She urged stakeholders to focus more on providing social care for senior citizens, especially their healthcare needs.
Omokaro said that there should be a paradigm shift from the perception of some Nigerians about ageing after the meeting. She added, “Our mandate is to improve the life and well-being of older persons, and I am very mindful of your various efforts in humanitarian interventions. Especially the distribution of palliatives in recent times, the campaigns for domestication of the Child Rights Act in States, your increasing commitment to equity and inclusion of the older population. So, Please open your minds for these discussions because at the end of the day, we should be able to shift and look at the older person’s needs and programmes beyond Palliatives.” She noted that ageing is supposed to be an economic sub-sector that can generate revenue as well as fetch dignity, as well as strengthen the human rights of older populations in the country. “Our focus in this meeting is to present an optimistic perception about ageing that will drive a holistic approach to ageing programming, guided by the NSCC Act 2017 under the National Policy on Ageing.” We are here to build on your efforts to share our vision and request collaborations on the multi-sectoral approach. “This will make challenges of older persons a holistic development concern rather than a one-off welfare mandate,” Omokaro said.
The United Nations Population Fund Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Gifty Addico, expressed the organisation’s commitment to support NSCC in its quest to protect the rights and privileges of the elderly in Nigeria.” UNFPA will support initiatives aimed at promoting the health and quality of life of older persons. This is to ensure our senior citizens have access to healthcare services, social support network and opportunity for active participation in the society.”
