BY
OBASI E. IKENGWU
According to the World Health Organization most conventional systems regard old age as occurring from 65 years. And of all the stages in life, old age is the most demanding. Though, everyone wishes to attain THIS AGE bracket, the psychological and mental challenges that go WITH it ARE enormous. Perhaps THIS IS WHY MANY PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD HAVE STRONG DESIRES to have children, and reasonable ones for that matter. The general notion is that only children can give their aged ones the needed care they deserve. Except for few, old age in this clime is generally full of stress and pressure arising from ailments, poverty and neglect.
It is often at this point that parents rediscover genuine and committed children and friends. Old age is not a time for one to be abandoned or denied care. Above all, it is an importance opportunity for one to draw nearer to God and prepare for the life beyond. At THAT STAGE there are illnesses that make an aged person a regular visitor to hospitals. No doubt, maintenance and sustenance in old age require time, money and prayers. It takes a determined mind to grapple with the challenges of old age. This is why all hands must be on deck to help THE AGED AMONG US TO cope. THE cultural PRACTICE THAT IT IS THE CHILDREN OF THE OLD THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM IS BECOMING A SEROUS CHALLENGE TO OUR SOCIETY IN VIEW OF THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN THE NATION.
IT IS WORRISOME THAT Governments at all levels have put LITTLE OR nothing in place for the care of the aged. This has continued to be the case despite the fact that adult children constitute the work force of the present generation whose occupations take them away from their aged. These adult children have in most cases become parents who have to take care of their own children also. THE SITUATION has therefore come to a stage where reliance on only the cultural practices for sustenance of the aged may not be sufficient anymore due to emerging realities. There is THEREFORE the need for proper legislations to promote the welfare of old people. This, to a large extent, will enhance their life expectancy. Government at all levels should institute welfare PROGRAMMES for old people. Those who are pensioners should have their benefits and pension entitlements paid as and when due.
TO THIS END, a new era should be ushered in that would phase out the difficulties encountered by old people in getting their support stipends. A system that allows a retiree to collapse and die while struggling to get his or her gratuity or pension is inhuman. We have reached the level where all information that will facilitate the payment of pensioners in their homes should be made available. In this era of ICT, a simple verification exercise that is credibly carried out will provide a long lasting data base that will not need regular screening exercises to update. The new contributory pension scheme is a commendable step that must not only be sustained but fine tuned to meet emerging challenges. A service to an old person is a service to humanity. Homes for proper care of old people who are indigent should be established in every state capital, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The National Health Insurance Scheme should be EXPANDED to accommodate the parents of workers because Old people require adequate Medical ATTENTION at all times. The prevalent death toll among our old will no doubt be minimized if we create an enabling environment for their up keep. WE SHOULD EMULATE THE holistic Health policy OF NATION’S fully accommodated the dependent population including old people. Churches, Mosques, philanthropists and civil society organizations as well as corporate bodies should brace up to this challenge.
Source: recorded live from FRCN daily commentary
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