Policies to end discrimination against older persons underway – NSCC DG

As the world marks the International Day of Older Persons today, the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Emem Omokaro, reassured the elderly that policies promoting fairness, inclusivity, and freedom from negative stereotypes were being implemented in the country.

She highlighted the importance of these measures to create an inclusive society where the rights of older persons are respected, allowing them to live in an age-friendly environment.

In a statement shared with PUNCH Healthwise and signed by the agency’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Media and Communications, Omini Oden, Omokaro emphasised the value and contributions of the elderly within their communities.

She said, “With the National Senior Citizens Centre’s Age-friendly, Human Rights and Life course lenses, policy actions that are non-prejudicial, non-discriminatory and devoid of negative stereotyping is moving forward, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, commitment to heralding  an inclusive Nigeria with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

IDOP is established by the United Nations and commemorated on October 1 every year to raise awareness and create a commitment to strengthening the care and support systems of older persons and caregivers.

IDOP is also set aside to recognise the contributions of older persons and address the issues that affect their well-being.

According to the UN, the theme for 2024 is, “Ageing with dignity: The importance of strengthening care and support systems for older persons worldwide.”

The UN defines an older person as someone who is above the age of 60.

Globally, there are one billion people aged 60 years and above.

According to the World Health Organisation, this number will increase to 1.4 billion in 2030, which means that one in every six people will be aged 60 years and above.

In Nigeria, the older population is about 14.8 million with 70 per cent in the rural area, as noted by the National Bureau of Statistics, 2019.

Older persons are usually faced with elder abuse, chronic conditions, security, mobility and movement, unemployment, discrimination, and poverty and are susceptible to sexual abuse.

PUNCH Healthwise reported stakeholders’ concerns over rising cases of elder abuse in the country, noting that most of such acts were perpetrated by family members and caregivers who lacked adequate training and skills.

As a matter of principle, the UN demands that older persons be treated fairly regardless of age gender, ethnicity or other status.

To further foster longer and healthier lives in old age, the UN declared 2021-2030 the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

Since IDOP coincides with Nigeria’s Independence Day, Omokaro stated that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, declared that the day be observed on October 5.

She said, “The day provides the opportunity on many platforms for the celebration of older persons and their contributions, as well as, for highlighting issues that concern them. October 1st in Nigeria is Independence Day. It was expedient, therefore, that to avoid obvious obliteration of the significance of celebrating older persons on October 1st, a dedicated national day be set. By executive directive, the Federal Government under President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, directed on December 17th 2021, that the National Day of Older Persons be observed annually on October 5th.”

Continuing, the NSCC DG said, “The theme for 2024 International Day of Older Persons is “Celebrating Older Persons and the integral role they play in the community.

“For the National commemoration, the National Senior Citizens Centre has expanded the theme and its expression to Celebrating older persons and the integral role they play; “Recognising People and Places that Remove the Barriers.”

“The national emphasis is on highlighting the true value and contributions of older persons in communities while recognising the major impediment of Ageism; the negative stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination that bar older persons’ access to appropriate Health and social care, social safety nets,  life-long learning opportunities, as well as enabling and supportive environments, needed for inclusion, independence participation and older persons’ continuing contributions to community and country.”

She noted that the NSCC would celebrate older persons in Nigeria with a weeklong activity, October 1-5, and recognise individuals committed to removing societal biases and barriers around the elderly.

“The National Senior Citizens Centre through its Five Days of Action, October 1st – 5th, will be recognising those who consciously commit to removing the societal biases and barriers and to honour them with the National Senior Citizens Centre Distinguished Public or Humanitarian Service and Elder Justice Advocacy Award while highlighting systemic discrimination against older persons and mobilizing network support for its transformational initiatives to improve quality of life of older persons.

“Objectives of 2024 National Day: to celebrate senior citizens and their past and continuing contributions to communities and country; to recognise and AWARD people and services that have recognised the value and significance of older persons and responded with heart and respect to ensure inclusion and participation for improved quality of life; to recognise and Mobilise media support networks for Senior citizens,” Omokaro said.

After the event, the NSCC DG expressed hope for public understanding of the importance of place and people in healthy aging and happiness of older persons.