The President of Coalition Of Societies For The Rights Of Older Persons In Nigeria, COSROPIN, Dr Eze Ajoku has said that older persons need more from the government for them to live a meaningful life at that stage of life.
Ajoku said this at a hang out programme, organised for the elderly person, by COSROPIN, at Ibadan House, Oke – Aremo, Ibadan.
He stated further that they presented a bill on older persons during the 9th assembly, which received speedy passage but was not assented by the president then.
“We are hoping that when we re-present that bill, it will receive a speedy passage once again by the Senates, and this president will not hesitate in signing it.
“We have continued to dialogue with the government to find ways of helping older persons, we are pushing for health insurance , we are also pushing for some monthly incentive for older persons to be able to have some money to buy their drugs and their medications,”Ajoku said.
He also said that the organisation is working hard to do more for these elderly persons so that they can live well and end well.
“Our organisation nationally is working to look after older persons to make sure that they can increase their life and end up well.
“We want these people to be well and healthy for their families, for their communities and to be able to mentor the younger generation,” Ajoku stated
In his remark, the State Coordinator of COSROPIN, Mr Olayinka Ajomole, said that loneliness is one the major things that is affecting the elderly persons, but the organisation is all out to provide solution to this by way of hanging out.
“We’ve discovered over the years that as our people get older in age they get socially isolated, and their interaction with others reduces .
“Medical sciences has shown that loneliness is a great killler, so the whole idea is to have hang out regularly like this , when you bring in older persons, for them to socialise, play games, do exercises, interact among themselves
“That is the whole essence of the programme that if we have regular programme like this it will improve their health, because health is a total thing, it includes your social and medical wellbeing, so their coming together in the whole essence is to improve their health through social interaction,” Ajomole said
The funding partner of the organisation, Voice Global, spoke through its Programme Manager, Ishita Dutta, commended the organisation for this initiative, considering that elderly persons are often left out of government developmental policies.
“We are here at this elderly hang out event organised by COSROPIN, we are very proud of the activities the COSROPIN is organising, we understood today that in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, this is 10th state in Nigeria that they are able to organise this programme in Nigeria.
“Considering that elderly persons are often left out of government development policies, we strongly believe in an initiative like the one that is being carried out by COSROPIN and we wish them all the success for the future,” Dutta stated.
One of the beneficiaries, who is a retired soldier, Pa Abraham Odeyale, said that what they have learnt today will go a long way in their life, and prayed for the organiser.
“I have benefited alot from this programme, and this that have learnt this morning shall be perennial in the sense that is qiute unbeatable particularly for elderly people because they did not want us to die early.
“All that we have learnt today is a great benefit for all, and I believe as I benefited from it so also my colllegues have , the Lord will uphold and sustain everyone of the us in Jesus name,” Odeyale stated.
The beneficiaries at the event played games, received medical care, talk from representative of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), medical personnel, and danced to exercise their body.